By ARUN PRATAP SINGH
Garhwal Post Bureau
Nainital, 4 Sep: In a significant development ahead of the Uttarakhand Premier League (UPL) 2025, scheduled to commence on 23 September, the Uttarakhand High Court in Nainital today heard a petition alleging irregularities in the awarding of the UPL tender. A former official of the Cricket Association of Uttarakhand (CAU) has contended that the contract for the tournament was granted to a single company, in violation of established regulations in this regard.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Subhash Upadhyay, after hearing the matter, issued notices to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Uttarakhand Cricket Board, and its officials, seeking their responses on the allegations. The petition has been filed by former CAU vice-president Surendra Bhandari, who has claimed that the tender process was neither transparent nor open to competition, raising questions about the propriety of the contract.
In his petition, Bhandari has also detailed the formation and recognition of the state cricket body. He reminded the Court that the Uttarakhand Cricket Board was constituted in 2006 and received formal recognition from the BCCI in 2019. Since that time, the BCCI has been funding CAU operations, providing over Rs 22 crores in support. Bhandari alleged that these funds were not utilised for the development of players or sporting infrastructure but were diverted for personal gains by the board office bearers and members. He has further alleged that, in the name of sports development, players were provided only basic sustenance, such as bananas and water, rather than meaningful facilities.
Bhandari further contended that the contract for the upcoming UPL tournament was awarded to a single company, contravening the rule that one person or entity may submit only one tender. He also claimed that the amount of Rs 2 crores that the board was entitled to receive in connection with the tournament has been waived by its members, along with the revenue that franchise companies pay for advertising their products during matches.
The petition seeks a full investigation into the matter and demands that the tender for the Uttarakhand Premier League, which has so far been not disclosed be made public, to ensure transparency and accountability in the process.
