SC ends Azharuddin's controversial stint as HCA president, appoints retd judge to oversee elections

The decision also means that the four-member supervisory committee, headed by Justice (retd) NA Kakru, which was tasked last year with the job of resolving issues in the HCA, has been eased out. A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Manoj Misra and Aravind Kumar, hearing the Hyderabad Cricket Association vs Charminar Cricket Club case, said that the impasse surrounding the pendency of elections in the cricket association must come to an end. The bench also said the elections must be held in a fair manner.

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The appointment of Justice (retd) L Nageswara Rao by the Supreme Court on Tuesday as a one-man committee to oversee the conduct of elections in the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) has brought cheers to the club secretaries and others associated with the cricket body.

"We are of the view that the impasse must come to an end and a fair election be held. This court is of the view that Justice Nageswara Rao, a retired judge of this court, would be suitable to be appointed to head a single-member committee to sort out this mess," the bench ordered. The Supreme Court also directed the HCA to extend all assistance to Justice Rao. "He can take all the assistance as needed. The expenses will be borne by the association. If the learned judge needs some directions from this court, the matter can be placed before us for the limited purpose," the order said. The matter will be heard next on March 2, 2023. The apex court was hearing a case in which the HCA had appointed Justice Deepak Verma, former Supreme Court judge, as its ombudsman and ethics officer but the move had run into trouble. The matter came to the top court after some cricket