12 October 2004	Tuesday	26 Shaban 1425

NEW DELHI, Oct 11: India's top court has set aside a lower court's order suspending all office-bearers of the country's cricket board, including president Ranbir Mahendra, because of alleged misconduct during board elections last month.

The Supreme Court granted the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) a stay on Monday until the case was decided. The court's order would allow the board's newly elected officials to resume office, a lawyer for the BCCI said.

But the court suspended former president Jagmohan Dalmiya from functioning as the board's Patron in Chief until a final decision, which is expected on Oct 26.

The Chennai High Court in southern India suspended all BCCI officials and temporarily appointed retired Supreme Court judge S. Mohan as an interim administrator to run the affairs of the board last week.

The court was hearing a case filed by a local club, who alleged the BCCI election was illegal because of the disqualification of a Maharashtra Cricket Association member from voting on election day.

Mahendra won the election after outgoing president Dalmiya used his casting vote to break the tied contest with federal minister Sharad Pawar.

Former International Cricket Council (ICC) chief Dalmiya was named as the board's first Patron in Chief last month, though some experts said the post ensured Dalmiya could still control the cash-rich BCCI - even after his term as president ended. -Reuters