New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed that the results of the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) elections be kept in a sealed cover and not be declared, while allowing the polling.
A Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana passed the direction while hearing a plea filed by Megha Gaur and Deen Dayal Kumawat, which sought a stay on the RCA elections, alleging complete exclusion of women from the electoral process.
Senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that there was “not a single woman voter” and no woman candidate in the electoral process of the RCA.
The senior counsel contended that the election process was being pushed through in undue haste, in violation of the governing framework of the association and orders passed by the Registrar, Cooperative Societies.
After hearing the submissions, the Supreme Court directed that the election results be kept in a sealed envelope. “We direct that the elections scheduled to be held today may take place. The results will not be declared. Let the results be in a sealed cover,” the CJI Kant-led Bench ordered.
The RCA elections have been preceded by prolonged disputes over the administration of the association and delays in holding the polls.
The Supreme Court had earlier declined to interfere with the Rajasthan High Court’s directions for holding time-bound elections under the supervision of Administrator Bhaskar A. Sawant.
The High Court had directed the administrator to oversee the election process, including finalisation of the voter list, appointment of a returning officer and completion of the polls, after the RCA elections were delayed.
The apex court had also questioned the continuation of the ad-hoc committee, observing that it had been constituted as a temporary arrangement to facilitate elections.
The RCA’s electoral process subsequently moved forward, with the final voter list comprising 38 voters. The list included secretaries of 34 District Cricket Associations, conveners of the ad-hoc committees of Jaipur and Nagaur, and two former international cricketers.
The elections are being held to constitute the RCA executive for the 2026-29 term, with six posts at stake — President, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-President, Joint Secretary and Executive Member.
The election has also attracted attention because several candidates are linked to prominent political families in Rajasthan. Dhananjay Singh Khinvsar, son of Rajasthan Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khinvsar, and Parakram Singh Rathore, son of former Minister Rajendra Rathore, had filed nominations for the post of President.
Pawan Dilawar, son of Education Minister Madan Dilawar, entered the contest for Vice-President, while Ashish Tiwari, son of Rajya Sabha member Ghanshyam Tiwari, filed his nomination for Treasurer. Mohit Yadav, son of BJP MLA Jaswant Yadav, had filed nominations for Secretary and Vice-President.
The polling was held at the RCA Academy in Jaipur on Tuesday. The Supreme Court’s order means that the voting and counting process can proceed as scheduled, but the outcome will not be announced and will remain secure in a sealed cover pending further consideration of the matter.
(IANS)
