Now, CJ bench to hear Vivek’s plea

HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad high court will hear on Thursday the plea filed by G Vivekanand, the disqualified president of Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), who is challenging disqualification order passed by the association’s Ombudsman.


Vivek was disqualified by the Ombudsman after several petitions filed by former cricketer Md Azharuddin, former HCA leaders Arshad Ayub, John Manoj and others who objected to Vivek's continuation as HCA chief. The ombudsman, Justice L Narasimha

Reddy

, concluded that Vivek has a conflict of interest as HCA chief as his Visakha

Industries

have commercial contracts. The disqualification was challenged by Vivek before the HC.

K Ramakanth Reddy, Azharuddin’s counsel, told court Vivek’s plea ought to be posted before a division bench but a single judge has been hearing it. Institutions like Lok Ayukta are being headed by former Chief Justices and pleas against their orders are being heard by division benches, he said citing court’s writ rules. With no mention about ombudsman in writ rules, the plea against his order is being heard by a single judge though ombudsman was a retired CJ of a HC, the counsel said. Bench of CJ said it would hear the writ petition and subsequent pleas on Thursday.