The court prioritized the timely conduct of democratic elections in a sports association over technical objections regarding locus standi and non-joinder of parties to ensure the continuity of sporting activities.

Order

05/03/2026

By way of filing the present writ petition, the petitioners have prayed for the following reliefs:-

“It is, therefore, respectfully prayed that this petition for writ in the nature of mandamus may kindly be allowed in toto and the following reliefs may kindly be granted in favor of the petitioner,

A. By an appropriate writ, order or direction, the elections of the members of the Executive Body of the DCA, Chittorgarh for 2024-28 be carried out as per the primary sport bodies constituted and shown Annex-5 Schedule declared election notice 19.07.2024 (Annexure-4) and the election process be restored/rescheduled from the stage at which it was left i.e. at the stage of inviting objections publication of voter list and eligible candidates.

B. By an appropriate writ, order or direction, the respondents may kindly be directed to conduct the free and fair elections for 2024-28 of the of the Executive Body District Cricket Association, Chittorgarh while continuing the elections under Mr. Gopal Singh Rathore (Ex-principal) as Election Officer and conclude the election process within a period of 1 month as per the provisions of the Rajasthan Sports (Registration, Recognition and Regulation of Associations) Act, 2005 and Rules made thereunder and the elections be carried out under the observation of District Collector, Chittorgarh.

C. Any other appropriate order or direction, which this Hon'ble Court deems fit and proper, may kindly be passed in favor of the petitioner.

D. Cost of the writ petition may kindly be awarded to the petitioner.”

2. Having heard learned counsel for the parties and upon perusal of the material available on record, this Court finds that the grievance of the petitioners is that the Deputy Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Chittorgarh, vide order dated 30.07.2024, while constituting an ad hoc committee in exercise of powers conferred under Section 24(1)(a) of the Rajasthan Sports Act, 2005 and Rule 9(1) of the Rajasthan Sports Rules, 2004 to look after the affairs of the District Cricket Association, Chittorgarh, had directed that elections be conducted within a period of three months. However, till date, without any valid reason or justification, the elections of the District Cricket Association, Chittorgarh have not been conducted, as a result of which sporting activities are being adversely affected.

3. Though learned counsel for the respondents submitted that the petitioner lacks locus standi to file the present writ petition, as he is the Secretary of the dissolved District Cricket Association, Chittorgarh, and further that the ad hoc committee entrusted with the task of conducting the elections has not been impleaded as a party respondent, this Court, having regard to the nature of the controversy involved, deems it just and proper to dispose of the present writ petition with a direction to respondent No.2, i.e., the Deputy Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Chittorgarh, to examine the matter and issue appropriate guidelines/directions to the ad hoc Executive Committee of the District Cricket Association, Chittorgarh, to conduct elections in accordance with the provisions of the Rajasthan Sports Act, 2005, the Rajasthan Sports Rules, 2004 , as well as the bye-laws of the District Cricket Association, as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of three months from the date of this order.

4. Stay application and all other pending applications, if any, also stand disposed of.