Jammu Tawi, May 31: Days after the announcement of its new office-bearers, the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) appears to be embroiled in an internal power struggle, with its President and Secretary at odds over constitutional authority and administrative functioning.
The newly-elected body was announced on May 21 following the withdrawal of a petition before the Supreme Court in the case Youth Cricket Club and Others vs Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association & Anr. Pursuant to the Supreme Court’s interim order dated January 8, 2026, Electoral Officer A.K. Joti, IAS (Retd), declared the results of the JKCA Elections 2025.
The elected office-bearers include Javid Ahmed Kitab as President, Desh Rattan Dubey as Vice-President, Vivek Khajuria as Secretary, Wajahat Majeed as Joint Secretary, Rajan Singh as Treasurer, and Anil Kumar Koul and Rakesh Koul as Apex Council members.
The controversy began after Secretary Vivek Khajuria convened an emergent Apex Council meeting on May 25 at the JKCA headquarters in Jammu. The agenda included implementation of the JKCA Constitution, appointment of key officials, nomination of bank account signatories and other administrative matters.
According to sources, President Javid Ahmed Kitab challenged the meeting notice before the Court of Additional District Judge, Srinagar, claiming it was issued without his concurrence and was therefore unconstitutional. The court granted interim relief, staying the operation of communications issued on May 22 and May 23, including the notice convening the May 25 meeting, until the next hearing on June 2.
The President argued that powers vested in his office were being bypassed through unauthorised communications and that the meeting notice lacked mandatory procedural requirements, including presidential approval and adequate notice period.
Speaking to a Jammu-based news agency, Kitab said the JKCA Constitution, approved by the Supreme Court, requires the Secretary to act with the concurrence of the President. He alleged that he was never consulted regarding the meeting and claimed that the May 25 date was chosen despite the known unavailability of several office-bearers due to Eid-ul-Adha.
“The JKCA has just been constituted and important issues require collective discussion. Instead of following the Constitution, rules are being violated, forcing me to seek legal intervention,” he said.
Kitab further stated that after the Secretary failed to convene a meeting despite being asked to do so, he exercised his discretionary powers and called a Special General Meeting (SGM) in Srinagar on June 6. He also alleged that the Secretary subsequently issued another notice on May 30 convening an urgent Apex Council meeting on June 1 in violation of constitutional provisions.
However, in a separate notice issued on May 30, the Secretary questioned the legality of the President’s move to convene the June 6 SGM and invite fresh nominations. The notice described the President’s actions as “ultra vires” to the JKCA Constitution and claimed the proposed meeting was unilateral and without authorisation from the office-bearers, Apex Council or General Body.
JKCA Vice-President Desh Rattan Dubey defended the Secretary, saying the Constitution grants him the necessary powers. He said the President should have participated in the May 25 meeting or resolved differences internally rather than approaching the court.
Meanwhile, several cricketers, speaking anonymously, expressed concern over the ongoing tug-of-war within the Association, saying such disputes could adversely affect the future of cricket in Jammu and Kashmir.
Ironically, while announcing the new body on May 21, the JKCA had expressed hope of moving forward collectively in the larger interest of cricket in the Union Territory after what it described as a fair, transparent and democratic electoral process.
