Has the Apex Council of the Hyderabad Cricket Association lost its ‘relevance’ in SMC reign?

Does the Apex Council of the Hyderabad Cricket Association have any relevance left? If yes, what is the role the Apex Council is expected to perform. If no, why is it still in existence.

Justice Nagesh Bheemapaka of the Telangana High Court, on October 29, 2026, had extended the term of the Apex Council as an interim in-charge arrangement under the supervision of the Single Member Committee of Justice (retd) P Naveen Rao.

“…permission is hereby granted to the existing elected members of the Apex Council, whose three-year term has run its course on 21st October, 2026, to continue functioning as an interim in-charge arrangement under the supervision of the Single Member Committee and in strictly in terms of the directions of this Court in W.P. No. 21904 of 2025, dated 24.04.2026, until the membership verification exercise is completed and elections are conducted in accordance with the applicable rules,” the judge had ruled.

Apex Council kept in the dark

According to the order, the Apex Council is supposed to be ‘functioning’ under the supervision of the SMC but, in reality, that is not happening. The Apex Council members, barring secretary M Jeevan Reddy, have been completely kept out of the loop regarding the administrative as well as cricket matters.

Telangana High Court permits continuation of HCA Apex Council as interim arrangement

There is no Apex Council meeting nor are the members informed when important decisions are being taken. “No one knows who is taking decisions in the HCA. Is the SMC taking the decisions or is the secretary taking the decisions? Why is the secretary not convening the Apex Council meeting as and when required?” asked a club secretary.

“Also why is the secretary sending press releases in his name when the HCA is supposed to be under the supervision of the SMC. The secretary is part of the Apex Council and has no standing on his own. If the SMC is taking decisions and asking the secretary to execute them, then why doesn’t the SMC also take the other Apex Council members in confidence,” asked another member.

Was the extension only for the secretary or entire Apex Council?

Is the recent court order meant only for the extension of Jeevan Reddy’s term? “The order doesn’t say the secretary will work under the supervision of the SMC. It categorically says the Apex Council and by that yardstick then it is incumbent that the SMC clearly outlines the role of the Apex Council and give them the due respect as they are elected members of the association,” said a former office-bearer.

Certain questions have cropped up since the October 29 order but the most important one being asked in the HCA circles is if the order was meant only to stall the conduct of fresh elections. Was it meant to give the secretary a free hand in running the HCA?

It is learnt that Jeevan Reddy had attended only one Apex Council meeting since he was ‘unanimously’ elected in March this year for the reminder of the Apex Council term, which ended on October 21, 2026.

“The remaining Apex Council members had called for a meeting way back in June and had also informed the SMC about it. They had even sent him the agenda of the meeting but, unfortunately, the SMC asked the members not to conduct the meeting as it would interfere with the TG20 tournament,” said a club member.

It is also learnt that the other members had conducted three Apex Council meetings which was boycotted by Jeevan Reddy. “In fact, Jeevan Reddy has filed a contempt case against the other members for conducting the meeting. The meeting was essential as the HCA had received orders from the BCCI Ombudsman on certain important matters,” the sources said and added that all communication from the BCCI still comes to the Apex Council.

Will the Apex Council members resign?

Sources said there is complete breakdown of communication between the SMC and the Apex Council. “The secretary has filed a case against the other members and they in turn have filed a plea against the SMC. In such a scenario how can the administration run smoothly? Actually, if the Apex Council members feeling so ‘neglected’ and ‘rejected’, then why are they continuing in the body. Won’t it be wise on their part to resign?” questioned a former senior office-bearer.

Based on a petition filed by Chilumula Sanjeev Reddy of Safilguda Cricket Club, Justice Bheemapaka, in July 2025, appointed Justice (retd) Naveen Rao to supervise the functioning of the HCA till further orders. The supervision was on the lines of the earlier SMC of Justice (retd) L Nageswara Rao, who was appointed by the Supreme Court in 2023.  Prior to taking over as the SMC, Justice Naveen Rao was supervising the conduct of the HCA league matches.

HCA Apex Council: Acting president: Sardar Daljeet Singh. Secretary: M Jeevan Reddy. Joint secretary: T Basava Raju. Treasurer: P Anil Kumar. Councillor: Sunil Kumar Agarwal. ICA member (male): Rajesh Yadav. ICA member (female): Rekha Patel.