Srinagar, June 26 (KDC): The Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) on Friday appointed its Vice President, Desh Rattan Dubey, as the Officiating President with immediate effect, following the suspension of President Javid Ahmad Kitab. The appointment was approved by the Apex Council through an official notification, authorising Dubey to exercise all powers, functions and responsibilities of the President in accordance with the JKCA Constitution until the Ombudsman’s decision or for a period of six months, whichever is earlier.
According to the notification, a copy of which is in the possession of news agency Kashmir Dot Com, the appointment has been made in terms of Rule 15(b), read with Rules 22 and 23(i) of the JKCA Constitution, pursuant to the resolution passed by the Apex Council on June 25, 2026.
The notification directs all office bearers, councillors, affiliated clubs, committees, employees and stakeholders of the association to recognise the authority of the Officiating President and extend full cooperation in the discharge of his constitutional responsibilities.
In his first major administrative decision after assuming office, Dubey issued an official notice recalling and withdrawing the Special General Meeting (SGM) scheduled for June 27, 2026, which had been convened by the suspended President, Javid Ahmad Kitab.
The Officiating President observed that despite having ceased to exercise the powers and functions attached to the office of the President, Kitab had purportedly issued a notice convening the SGM. The notice declared that the meeting call lacked constitutional authority and was therefore legally untenable.
“The purported Notice convening the Special General Meeting on 27.06.2026 issued by Javid Ahmad Kitab is hereby declared to be wholly unauthorized, without jurisdiction, void ab initio and non est in the eyes of law, having been issued by a person who had no authority under the Constitution of the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association to convene such meeting,” the notice states.
Consequently, the notice issued by the Officiating President formally recalled and withdrew the meeting notice and directed that it shall not be acted upon by any member, affiliated club, life member, office bearer, councillor, committee or employee of the association.
The order further states that any proceedings conducted or resolutions purportedly passed pursuant to the June 27 meeting would be without constitutional authority, carry no legal sanctity or binding effect upon the JKCA, and would be liable to be ignored for all purposes.
The Officiating President also instructed all members and stakeholders to act strictly in accordance with the Constitution of the JKCA, the Apex Council resolution dated June 25, 2026, the notification dated June 26, 2026, and any orders passed by the competent court.
The twin developments mark a significant shift in the administration of the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association, with the newly appointed Officiating President assuming charge pending the Ombudsman’s ruling while simultaneously invalidating the Special General Meeting convened by the suspended President, setting the stage for the next phase of the association’s ongoing governance dispute. (KDC)
