High Court allows KN Shanthakumar to contest KSCA polls, quashes nomination rejection

Bengaluru: In a significant development ahead of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) elections, the Karnataka High Court on Friday set aside the Election Officer’s decision to reject the nomination filed by senior journalist and former KSCA office-bearer K.N. Shanthakumar.

The Court has directed that Shanthakumar be allowed to contest the elections as per the already announced schedule on December 7, creating fresh uncertainty within the cricket body.

Justice Suraj Govindaraj, who heard the petition, ruled that the Returning Officer had erred in rejecting the nomination merely on the grounds of a pending Rs 200 subscription arrears, which Shanthakumar argued had already been paid and acknowledged during scrutiny.

The Court noted that the Election Officer had not provided adequate opportunity for clarification before rejecting the nomination, thereby violating principles of fairness.

The verdict has triggered confusion within KSCA circles, particularly because former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad has already been declared elected unopposed as KSCA President earlier this week. The High Court’s directive to proceed with the election on December 7 as scheduled has now cast doubts on the validity of Prasad’s unopposed selection.

During the hearing, Shanthakumar’s counsel maintained that the receipt for the Rs 200 dues was indeed submitted during scrutiny. If the officer claimed otherwise, he should have issued a formal communication before rejecting the nomination.

KSCA’s counsel countered that all candidates must fulfil membership requirements and argued that the receipt had not been produced on time. The association also acknowledged that it had not updated the list of members with pending dues, calling it an oversight.

The Court’s order has now reopened the contest for the KSCA presidency, setting the stage for a renewed electoral battle. KSCA members await an official clarification on the status of Prasad’s unopposed election as the association prepares for the December 7 polls.

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