A defiant Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has told the Supreme Court that it cannot implement the administrative and organisational reforms proposed by the court-appointed Justice lodha Committee as these were shot down by three-fourth members of the cricket body on October 1.
The BCCI filed an affidavit in response to an application by the Justice lodha Committee, which charged the cricket body with “contempt” of the apex court for not complying with the SC’s directions of July 18. The lodha panel has suggested the suspension of the top brass of the BCCI for stalling reforms and going ahead with regular business showing scant regard to the court’s directions.
In its 40-page affidavit, the BCCI said it is “complying” with the order of the apex court, but the fine print reads just the opposite. The BCCI said a meeting of the Board was called to discuss the reforms directed by the SC, but none of the decisions received support from three-fourth majority as required under the BCCI constitution for adopting an amendment.
The court had ordered sweeping reforms in the BCCI by implementing One State One Vote principle, age limit for office-bearers, and bar on successive re-election among other changes. The Board cited the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Registration of Societies Act, which governs the BCCI, and which requires the General Body of BCCI to approve any changes in its constitution by a three-fourth majority.
last week, the lodha Committee had told the apex court that in utter disregard of the court’s order, the Board held a meeting to appoint selectors and finalise the budget for the next year while giving the reforms a go-by. The lodha Committee informed the SC that the BCCI officials did not respond to the emails and reminders.
The affidavit is signed by Ratnakar Shetty and not by Ajay Shirke who is the Secretary of BCCI, authorised to file affidavit on behalf of the cricketing body.
The lodha Committee also referred to the BCCI’s decision to appoint former SC judge Markandeya Katju to study the reforms proposed.
The report of the Katju-led Committee made “derogatory remarks” against former CJI lodha and criticised the judiciary for passing this decision.
The BCCI affidavit steered clear of Katju’s report. Its affidavit said the comments made in the report had nothing to do with the BCCI as they were made by the judge (Katju) in his personal capacity.
It further added that the Board does not “endorse” any comments made in the report given by the former judge.
The Bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur will take a call on Thursday on whether to haul BCCI for contempt or proceed to replace the Board officials with a panel of independent administrators, as proposed by lodha Committee, to ensure time-bound implementation of reforms in the BCCI.