SILCHAR, June 26 � The stage was set for the crucial 60th annual general meeting and elections to the new team of the of the Assam Cricket Association (ACA) here at the Banga Bhawan, but the last minute court order has shattered the dreams of the aspirants.
In an interesting twist to the tale, the Kamrup Civil court through a temporary injunction on Friday has restrained the Assam Cricket Association from holding its annual general meeting until the next date of hearing. The Civil Judge 1, CB Gogoi of Kamrup Court passed the stay order following the title suit filed by Tapan Sarma, vice-president of Nagaon District Sports Association affiliated to the ACA alleging financial anomalies against the State cricket body.
In the order, the civil judge said, �on careful examination of the pleadings and the documents annexed with the case record Misc. (J) Case No. 240/2015 in Title Suit No. 237/2015, that the defendant being involved in the activities to encourage, upgrade develop, control and spread the game of cricket in the State of Assam and its adjoining areas for both men and women has undertaken a number of sports and other activities throughout the year involving a huge amount of money. The petitioner came to know that the governing body of the opposite party adopted the auditor�s report and statement of account for the financial year 2013-14 on 25-6-2015 and is going to place the same in the proposed AGM on 26-6-2015 at Silchar. Moreover, some persons with vested interest and present secretary Bikash Baruah without causing any audit concern is going to hold the meeting with a view to misappropriate huge amount of money during the financial year.�
The order further stated that according to the plaintiff, the present secretary of the ACA is known for various anomalies and mismanagement. Referring to a judgment passed by the Supreme Court reported in 1995 Special Land Acquisition Officer and Ors. Vs Mallanagouda Rayanagouda Patil, the Kamrup court order said, �the defendant is going to accept the audited statement of account for the financial year 2013-2014 in the proposed AGM for wrongful gain.�
Talking to The Assam Tribune, Tapan Sarma, a former joint secretary of the ACA said, �the ACA has presented the annual statement of accounts of only 2014-2015. But the association surprisingly made no mention of the records of the previous years since 2010.�
All the ACA officials including sitting president Gautam Roy, Minister Rockibul Hussain, Rani Narah, Bikash Baruah, Sushanta Bishwa Sarma and others who had assembled for the meeting decided to abide by the court order after Gautam Roy received the order copy from the district administration.
Later talking to the media, Roy said that �If there is any financial allegation, law will take its own course. We respect the order passed by the court. When I was a minister, I had assisted the district sports bodies with financial help.� Asked whether the same team will run the proceedings of the ACA, Roy said, �yes it will continue to function as all the members abide by law.�
