KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a show-cause notice to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, National Sports Council (NSC), Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) and CAN President Binay Raj Pandey for not holding the election for the executive committee of CAN.
The existing Sports Development Act stipulates that sports organizations should be registered at the NSC.
As per the Act, the NSC needs to monitor every sports organization but it has not taken action against CAN for not holding any election for the latter´s executive committee in its 60-year long history.
The SC issued such a notice responding to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by cricketers Amir Akhtar, Manoj Baishya along with Shailendra Khadka and Surya Thapaliya, who have sought a mandamus order. The PIL also claims that CAN lacks transparency in its financial affairs.
According to advocate Bhesh Raj Panta, a single bench of justice Bharat Raj Upreti issued the show-cause notice.
“The informal debates on accountability of sports organizations will get a legal course now,” said advocate Panta.
Akhtar, a former national team bowler, said that they have appealed to the court to establish rule of law in the sports sector. “CAN will get a new leadership if the election is conducted,” said Akhtar. He said absence of elected leadership in CAN has hampered players´ development.
CAN President Padey said that they will respond to the notice as per the legal procedure and added that the CAN is always willing to hold its election.
“We are always willing to hold election. We had sent a proposal for the amendment of our constitution to NSC in 2002 for approval but it not yet been approved. This has prevented us from holding the election of our executive committee,” said Pandey.
