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| Scam, suspension, reinstatement: JKCA’s endless hat-trick of controversies | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, June 27: The power struggle within the scandal-hit Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) intensified on Saturday after the Association’s General Body, claimed to reinstate President Javid Ahmad Kitab, barely two days after a rival faction suspended him and appointed Vice-President Desh Rattan Dubey as the officiating president.
The latest development adds another chapter to the JKCA’s long history of controversies, financial scandals, legal battles, and factional infighting that have repeatedly overshadowed cricket administration in Jammu and Kashmir.
At a Special General Meeting (SGM) held in Srinagar, the General Body unanimously rejected the actions taken by the rival faction and reaffirmed Kitab’s leadership.
According to a statement issued by the Association, the General Body declared all orders, notifications, resolutions, and communications issued by the Honorary Secretary since May 21 as “null and void.”
The meeting also declared the June 25 resolution, which suspended Kitab, and the June 26 notification appointing an officiating president, as unconstitutional, illegal, and without jurisdiction.
Resolving to restore the status quo, the General Body announced that the affairs of the Association would continue under the leadership of Javid Ahmad Kitab.
The meeting, attended by affiliated clubs and life members, passed a series of resolutions aimed at restoring constitutional governance, transparency, accountability, and administrative stability within the Association.
Among the major decisions, the General Body appointed retired Justice Deepak Verma as the Ombudsman of the JKCA and authorised the President to appoint an Ethics Officer to strengthen institutional oversight.
The General Body also approved sweeping recruitment reforms, deciding that key positions, including that of the Chief Executive Officer, would be filled through an open and transparent recruitment process involving public advertisement and interviews based on prescribed qualifications, age limits, and experience.
In another significant decision, the meeting approved the constitution of a committee to draft a code of conduct for players, members, and office-bearers. It also made it mandatory for JKCA-sponsored BCCI-qualified coaches to serve the Association for at least ten years and approved financial support for the Cricket Players’ Association.
The General Body further clarified that the Indian Cricket Association has no constitutional authority to nominate members to the JKCA Apex Council.
The President was also authorised to appoint a private secretary, determine monthly allowances, engage legal counsel for the Association, and take an appropriate decision regarding the life membership of Ajay Sharma after verification, noting that Sharma had represented Delhi in cricket and contested the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) elections in 2024.
The meeting concluded with a two-minute silence in memory of former cricketers Bhardwaj, Rajinder Singh, Pawan Gupta, and Vikram Rathore.
Addressing the gathering, Javid Ahmad Kitab said leading an Association whose team had recently won the Ranji Trophy was both a privilege and a responsibility. He urged all stakeholders to adhere to the JKCA Constitution and judicial directions to ensure the continued growth of cricket in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The developments came just two days after another faction of the JKCA, led by the Association’s Secretary, announced Kitab’s suspension through a resolution adopted by the Apex Council on June 25.
According to the notification, the decision was approved by an 8-0 majority under Rule 23(i) of the JKCA Constitution.
Since the resolution pertained to the conduct and suspension of the President, it was not circulated to Kitab. Instead, it was sent to the remaining nine Apex Council members, of whom eight voted in favour while one member did not communicate any decision.
The notification stated that the resolution had been validly adopted under the Constitution and that Kitab stood suspended with immediate effect. It further said the resolution would be placed before the next meeting of the Apex Council for formal ratification and directed all officials, employees, affiliated units, and functionaries to implement the decision.
Following Kitab’s suspension, Vice-President Desh Rattan Dubey formally assumed charge as the Officiating President of the JKCA at a function held in Srinagar.
Present on the occasion were Secretary Vivek Khajuria, Joint Secretary Wajahat Wasti, Treasurer Rajan Singh, Apex Council member Anil Koul, Chander Mohan, and other office-bearers.
Addressing the gathering, Dubey and Khajuria assured members that the Association’s affairs would be conducted with professionalism, transparency, and collective decision-making through the Apex Council.
The present dispute comes barely a month after the JKCA formally declared the results of its long-delayed elections on May 21, following the withdrawal of a petition before the Supreme Court and the consequent vacation of an interim stay on the declaration of results.
The elections saw Javid Ahmad Kitab elected as President, Desh Rattan Dubey as Vice-President, Vivek Khajuria as Secretary, Wajahat Majeed as Joint Secretary, Rajan Singh as Treasurer, and Anil Kumar Koul and Rakesh Koul as members of the Apex Council.
A communication issued by the JKCA stated that following the withdrawal of the petition in the Supreme Court and the vacation of the interim order dated January 8, 2026, the results of the JKCA Elections 2026 were formally declared. |
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