Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Ethics Officer-cum-Ombudsman Justice Jaspal Singh has set a deadline of February 18 for the resignation of the cricket body’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Deepak Sharma..The order was issued after it was found that Sharma was employed with Punjab State Housing Federation (Housefed) as well when he had joined PCA. Besides failing to disclose the employment, it was also found that he had received salary from Housefed for certain months.“It is a undisputed fact and also stands established from the documents available on record a s well as the non-denial of the Respondent No 1 that the salary was drawn for the overlapping months of 2014-2015 from the HOUSEFED a s well a s PCA which is suggestive of the fact that Respondent No. 1 did not disclose the real and actual facts to the PCA office with regard to his employment with HOUSEFED at the time, he joined and served PCA in pursuance of his appointment letter dated 01.04.2014. Thus, it is evident that he misrepresented the actual facts and availed of the financial benefit by drawing salary from two different sources for the same period and committed misconduct just to obtain financial benefit,” Justice Singh recorded in an order on February 13..Following the clear finding of dual employment, Sharma told the Ombudsman that he will resign from the post. Justice Singh accepted the proposal saying,“While the charges of misrepresentation of real facts, obtaining of financial gain and ethical misconduct stand proved but this authority is of the considered view that voluntary resignation, if tendered promptly and unconditionally, may avoid further institutional disruption and prolonged litigation.”Accordingly, the Ombudsman asked Sharma to resign by 5 PM of February 18. The same has been ordered to be accepted within 10 days by the PCA Apex Council. However, the Ombudsman clarified that if Sharma fails to resign, he shall stand removed from the post of CEO. “In the event resignation is accepted, Respondent No. 1 [PCA] shall have the right to receive the service benefits accrued to him for the period he has rendered the service from the Respondent No. 6,” the order said..PCA Apex Council has been directed to make an interim arrangement for the smooth functioning of the office of CEO PCA after Sharma’s resignation.The order was passed on a complaint moved by former Ranji cricketer Rakesh Handa, who alleged that Sharma had committed various irregularities and manipulations in the appointments to various posts in PCA. It was also alleged that Sharma’s son was unfairly selected during certain cricketing seasons. However, the Ombudsman rejected these allegations but ordered his removal on the ground of dual employment..Advocate Yadwinder Singh represented PCA.Pardeep Sharma appeared for complainant Rakesh Handa..Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.
