The Show cause notice (SCN) seeking explanation from the TN Cricket Association (TNCA), of which N Srinivasan is the president, issued by the TN Commercial Taxes and Registration Department, was only an eye-wash, alleged Bharathi Cricket Club (BCC), one of the constituent clubs of the TNCA, before the Madras High Court on Wednesday.
“The SCN dated December 31 last year for action under Section 34A of the TN Societies Registration Act, is a half hearted step without a genuine discharge of duty by the authorities invested with power to take necessary action,” BCC honorary secretary C S Kadiresan said in his writ petition.
The petition prayed for a direction to the State government to take appropriate action against the members of the executive committee of the TNCA on the basis of the information/complaints submitted by the BCC on March 27 last year. When the matter came up before Justice K K Sasidharan on Wednesday, Special Government Pleader I S Inbadurai took notice for the government. Ordering private notice to Srinivasan and his set of EC members, the judge adjourned the matter till June 17. The SCN had been issued based on the report of the District Registrar (Administration), who had attempted to slip under the carpet vital information.
The Commercial Tax department also glossed over acts of mismanagement of the TNCA and hastily issued the SCN, which was nothing but a make-believe affair without any genuine effort to enforce the provisions of the TN Societies Registration Act. It was a hidden agenda of allowing an escape route to the members of the executive committee against the acts of mismanagement.
The TNCA, however, had obtained a stay on the SCN without providing any explanation. Srinivasan, being the president (since stepped aside) of the BCCI, president of TNCA, a franchisee of the IPL and chairman of India Cements, had abused his position for his personal gains.