Shillong, Aug 30: The BCCI will hold its annual general meeting at its headquarters in Mumbai on 18th September.
Although a small player in Indian cricket, the Meghalaya Cricket Association would have been expected to send its representatives to the AGM.
Who will speak for Meghalaya at the meeting remains to be seen, however, as the factional war for control of the MCA continues, at least in the courtroom. The MCA President, James PK Sangma MP, is up against the Honorary Secretary, Rayonald Kharkamni.
It was in June and July where there were almost daily news reports regarding the MCA, from sexual harassment to corruption and all points in between. The daily airing of grievances has dried up but the court cases continue to inch forwards.
The latest hearing was on 27th August when Sangma’s lawyers asked to be allowed to file an application to bring on record certain relevant facts that have a “grave bearing in the matter”, which Kharkamni’s lawyers did not object to. The case will be heard again on 8th September.
Sangma and Kharkamni are involved in a protracted battle for control of the MCA, apparently stemming from disagreements over control of the association’s finances. The fight took a twist when the Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW) found that Kharkamni had failed to act on a complaint of sexual harassment made by members of the U-23 women’s cricket team.
As a result of this, Sangma suspended Kharkamni on 27th June. However, the matter has not ended there as the Honorary Secretary had the support of the Apex Council, members of which argued that Sangma violated the association’s constitution by taking unilateral action. The dispute extends to the appointment of an MCA Ombudsman, who Sangma said was duly appointed in March but the Kharkamni faction argue otherwise.
Kharkamni had scheduled a special general meeting on 3rd July but Sangma moved the court to have this suspended, which the High Court agreed to in an interim order.