Hyderabad: Telangana high court has set aside the appointments of staff and coaches made by the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), including that of former India cricketer Venkatesh Prasad, who was appointed as consultant for cricket operations and game development. The court also criticised the ‘sidelining’ of the Hyderabad Cricket Academy of Excellence (HCAE) by the HCA.In an order (dated May 2), Justice Nagesh Bheemapaka ruled the appointments were made in violation of HCA’s rules and regulations. The court directed that the honorarium paid to Prasad and nine other appointees be recovered from the personal accounts of HCA’s president A Jagan Mohan Rao, secretary R Devraj, treasurer CJ Srinivas Rao, and chief executive officer Suneel Kante and not from HCA funds. Prasad had been hired in Aug 2024 with a remuneration of ₹75 lakh per annum.While the court found no fault with the appointees for accepting the roles or receiving payment, it emphasised that the appointments could not continue. “Though this court is sympathetic towards the appointees, it cannot allow their respective appointments to continue, since the fact remains that the said appointments were not made in accordance with the rules and regulations of HCA,” Justice Bheemapaka said.The court further observed that HCA office-bearers, including the president and secretary, do not have the authority to make appointments independently without the approval of the Apex Council, of which they are members.Allowing a writ petition filed by HCA vice-president Sardar Daljeet Singh, joint secretary T Basava Raju, and ICA representatives RA Swaroop and Vanka Roma Singh, the court held that the appointments violated HCA’s bye-laws and internal governance procedures.Justice Bheemapaka clarified that the appointees were entitled to honorarium only up to the date of the order, for services rendered, and that the office-bearers cannot continue to avail their services going forward.“HCA should follow the rules and procedure as envisaged in its regulations and make all future appointments in accordance with them,” the order read.In addition to Prasad, the order affects the appointments of Himani Yadav, Mamata Kanojia, Arjun Hoysala, Sabyasaachi, Rajshekar Shanbal, Vineet Saxena, Shravanti Naidu, BR Suvarna Laxmi, and SN Amit, who were hired as coaches and physios.