Upset over the non-implementation of its recommendations for reforms in the administration of cricket in India, Justice (Retd) RM lodha Committee has approached the Supreme Court seeking approval to appoint former Union Home Secretary GK Pillai as observer of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to supervise its functioning. The lodha panel, in its third status report, has also recommended that all office-bearers of BCCI and State associations who fail to fulfill criteria laid by it with regard to the 70-year age cap, citizenship, and tenures should be removed from their posts immediately.
The panel has said that as an observer Pillai will guide BCCI in administrative works, including award of contracts, media rights, transparency norms and holding of future domestic, international and Indian Premier league matches. The committee has also sought the SC's nod to empower it to appoint secretarial staff and fix remuneration.
“While the day-to-day administration of BCCI is at present carried out by the Chief Executive Officer and certain managers who assist him in this regard, there would be a need to appoint an observer who would guide the BCCI in its administration, particularly with reference to the award of contracts, transparency norms, audit, etc., for domestic, international and IPl cricket to be played hereafter. The committee recommends that GK Pillai, former Union Home Secretary be appointed as the observer, with the power to appoint an auditor and all necessary secretarial staff, assistance and remuneration as may be determined appropriate by the committee,” the report, filed through the panel’s secretary Gopal Sankaranarayanan, said.
Quoting the July 18 verdict, the panel said that though most of its recommendations were accepted by the court, the BCCI has not complied with the timelines fixed by it for various reforms. It further said that several office-bearers at both the BCCI and the State associations continue to hold their posts although they stand disqualified as per the order of this court. “It is submitted that those individuals who fall foul of these norms be declared to cease to hold office forthwith,” the panel said.
Based on the lodha Committee recommendations, the SC had last month given the BCCI and 13 State associations a deadline till December 3 to implement the reforms. The SC had also stopped funds disbursal until compliance of recommendations. While the BCCI remains defiant, Bihar and Hyderabad cricket associations welcomed the move. In fact, Hyderabad cricket association had decided to implement the lodha reforms and called for elections.
The committee, in its report, also pleaded with the SC to issue a direction that now “all administrative and management matters be carried out by the CEO of the BCCI without advertence to the office-bearers”.
On July 18, the apex court had accepted almost all major recommendations of the lodha Committee on reforms in the BCCI, including a bar on Ministers and civil servants and those above 70 from becoming its members, but left it to Parliament to decide whether it should come under Right To Information and betting on the game should be legalised. It had also accepted the recommendations of the committee to have a CAG nominee in BCCI and had rejected the BCCI's objection to recommendations for one-State, one-vote.