Jaipur: In a significant interim order ahead of the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) elections, the Rajasthan High Court has permitted the Sawai Madhopur District Cricket Association (DCA) faction led by Secretary Deepak Raj to provisionally participate in the RCA’s upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) and elections.
Justice Sudesh Bansal allowed the office-bearers elected on July 21, 2024, to participate in the RCA proceedings, while making it clear that the interim relief will remain subject to the final outcome of the writ petitions pending before the Court.
The RCA elections are scheduled to be held on September 29, 2026.
Dispute Between Two Factions
The Sawai Madhopur DCA has been engaged in a dispute between two rival factions, one led by Deepak Raj and the other by Dr. Sumit Garg. Due to the dispute, neither faction had been permitted to participate in the RCA’s AGM or vote in the upcoming elections.
Several writ petitions challenging the validity of the DCA’s competing elections and office-bearers are pending before the High Court.
Deepak Raj Faction Relies on 2024 Election
The Deepak Raj faction submitted that elections to the Sawai Madhopur DCA were held on July 21, 2024, following which the RCA granted affiliation to the newly elected executive body through a certificate dated July 22, 2024.
According to the faction, its elected body has a tenure from July 21, 2024, to July 20, 2028.
However, the RCA’s Adhoc Committee subsequently withdrew the affiliation on May 14, 2026, prompting the faction to approach the High Court, which is still pending.
Sumit Garg Faction Challenges 2024 Election
The rival faction led by Dr. Sumit Garg contended that the valid DCA elections were held on February 11, 2022, in which Garg was elected Secretary.
It argued that the tenure of that executive body continued until February 10, 2026, and that the subsequent election held on July 21, 2024, during the subsistence of the earlier body’s tenure, was unauthorised and illegal.
A separate petition has challenged the 2024 election and sought recognition of the 2022-elected executive body for the remainder of its tenure.
Earlier Order Had Kept Both Factions Out of RCA AGM
The High Court had earlier, on June 16, 2026, restrained members of the Sawai Madhopur DCA from participating in the RCA’s AGM until the next date of hearing.
Relying on that order, the RCA did not permit either faction from Sawai Madhopur to participate in the forthcoming election.
Court: Participation in AGM and Elections Is an Important Right
While considering the rival claims, the High Court observed that participation in the RCA’s Annual General Meeting and elections is an important right of its member District Cricket Associations.
The Court noted that Sawai Madhopur DCA is a member of the RCA and found that completely excluding it from the AGM and forthcoming election could cause irreparable injury.
The Court also took note of the fact that the tenure of the executive body led by Dr. Sumit Garg had already expired on February 10, 2026, while the Deepak Raj faction continues to claim a tenure up to July 20, 2028, based on the July 2024 election.
Interim Relief Granted to Deepak Raj Faction
Accordingly, the High Court has provisionally permitted the Sawai Madhopur DCA office-bearers elected on July 21, 2024, led by Deepak Raj, to participate in the RCA’s AGM and the September 29 election.
The Court, however, clarified that the permission is subject to the final outcome of the pending writ petitions.
Thus, the High Court has not finally decided which of the two factions is the legally valid body of the Sawai Madhopur DCA. The validity of the July 21, 2024 election and the subsequent withdrawal of affiliation by the RCA remain issues to be adjudicated.