NEW DELHI: A Delhi court has stayed the suspension of Delhi & Districts Cricket Association secretary Vinod Tihara earlier this month, terming the move by the new dispensation at the DDCA led by media honcho Rajat Sharma as “whimsical and arbitrary act”.
Additional district judge Vishal Singh said that DDCA misused its powers and granted an interim ex-parte injunction in favour of Tihara, while also issuing notice to the DDCA and its office bearers and seeking their response by September 6, PTI reports.
The DDCA had on August 14 suspended Tihara on charges of bringing disrepute to the organization and attempts to “usurp the power” of the board of directors, only a month after he had assumed office.
The decision to suspend Tihara was taken at a meeting where 12 out of the 15 members supported the move alleging that he tried to challenge the functioning powers of newly elected president Rajat Sharma, the promoter of Hindi news channel India TV and Member of Parliament representing the ruling BJP.
In its order delivered Tuesday, the court said that the “plaintiff has a prima facie case against defendant no.1 (DDCA). The whimsical and arbitrary act of suspension of the plaintiff by defendant no.1 (DDCA) in misuse of its powers merits grant of ad interim ex-parte injunction in favour of the plaintiff”.
“Accordingly, the operation of suspension order (undated) but purported to be dated August 14, issued by DDCA through its Board of Directors is hereby stayed till further order…,” the court said.
It directed the DDCA not to “attempt to restrain or cause obstruction to plaintiff in discharge of his duties and functions as secretary, DDCA, till further orders”, the newswire further reports.
The advocate for Tihara had told the court that the suspension was the outcome of a conspiracy of the members of the board and that he “did not do anything against the interest of DDCA or in violation of the applicable norms while acting as secretary, DDCA”.
“Beyond the mere bald allegations, defendant (DDCA and others) had no substance against the plaintiff that merited any adverse action against him,” Tiwara’s advocate told the court.
Interestingly, Sharma and Tihara fought elections together to defeat former cricketer Madan Lal, who was fronted by the CK Khanna-Chetan Chauhan lobby, PTI additionally reports.
