Accepting most of the recommendations by Justice Lodha panel, the Supreme Court on Monday ruled that no minister and civil servant can become a member in the BCCI and that they stand disqualified now.
A bench led by Chief Justice T S Thakur also said that one state-one vote rule shall henceforth apply to all state associations. Gujarat and Maharashtra have been allowed to have more than one association but they will have voting right on a rotational basis.
A three-member committee, comprising former chief justice of India R.M. Lodha and former Supreme Court judges Ashok Bhan and R. Raveendran, was set up by the apex court to ‘clean up’ BCCI. The committee submitted its report in January.
It accepted the recommendation that there should be a players association in the BCCI and the funding of players’ association accepted while leaving it to the Board to decide the extent of funding.
The Bench accepted the recommendation that one person should hold one post in cricket administration to avoid any conflict of interest and scrapping of all other administrative committees in the BCCI after the CAG nominee comes in.
In response to the ruling, BCCI said, “We will show greatest respect in implementing the judgment.”
Reacting to the Supreme Court ruling, Justice RM Lodha said: “great day for Indian cricket and Indian sport, think cricket fans should rejoice the verdict of SC.”
Earlier, on February 4 this year, the court had suggested the BCCI to fully accept the recommendation of the committee on the structural reforms of the world’s richest cricketing body.
The court, however, left it to Parliament to decide whether the functioning of the BCCI can be brought under RTI as recommended by the Lodha panel and whether to legalise betting in cricket or not.
It left it to the Board to decide whether there is need for any change in the existing agreement relating to broadcasting rights and whether a franchise member should be in the Board to avoid any conflict of interest.
The Bench requested the three-member panel, also comprising former apex court judges Ashok Bhan and R V Raveendran to oversee the transition of administrative structure in the BCCI which has to take place within six months.
The apex court-appointed Lodha Committee, on January 4, recommended sweeping reforms and an administrative shake-up at the troubled BCCI, suggesting that ministers be barred from occupying positions, a cap put on the age and tenure of the office-bearers and legalising betting.
Some of the State cricket associations, former players Kirti Azad, Bishen Singh Bedi and cricket administrators also approached the apex court with regard to the implementation of Lodha panel recommendations.
