K N Shanth Kumar
Credit: DH Photo
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court declared K N Shanth Kumar as a valid candidate to contest the elections to the post of president of Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA).
Justice Suraj Govindaraj passed this order while allowing the petition filed by Shanth Kumar challenging the November 24 order passed by the electoral officer. This order will pave the way for a direct contest between Shanth Kumar and former India pace bowler B K Venkatesh Prasad for the post of KSCA president.
Reacting to the judgment, Shanth Kumar, said, "I welcome the judgment. I am very happy and relieved that the court found me eligible. I will rejoin the team, and we will work towards winning the elections."
Earlier, the electoral officer had rejected Shanth Kumar's nomination on the grounds of "pending arrears". The petitioner had contended that the arrears were paid on November 24, the day of scrutiny of nomination papers, before the completion of the scrutiny process.
Justice Suraj Govindaraj set aside the November 24 order passed by the electoral officer and issued a direction to consider Shanth Kumar as a valid candidate to contest the election for the post of KSCA president.
The court further directed the electoral officer to announce the list of eligible candidates by 3 pm on November 29. The election process shall continue according to the calendar of events, modified by the court in an earlier round of litigation, Justice Suraj Giovindaraj said.
In the previous petition filed by the KSCA, the court had modified the calendar of events and said that the election shall take place on December 7 and the results will be declared on the same day.
Meanwhile, Venkatesh Prasad, welcoming the HC's decision said, "With this clarity now in place, I am fully prepared to contest the upcoming KSCA elections."