Twist in BCCI reforms

SC asked to recall Lodha recommendations

The Centre on Friday urged the Supreme Court to recall the July 18, 2016 and January 2 orders on the implementation of Justice Lodha panel’s recommendations on administrative reforms in the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told a new Bench of Justices Dipak Misra, A.M. Kanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud that, “we were not heard when the court decided to implement recommendations which go against our interests”.

Mr. Rohatgi submitted that three members of the BCCI, who had full membership earlier, now stand relegated and downgraded to the status of associate members without voting rights as per the Lodha committee’s “one state-one vote” recommendation.

He questioned the jurisdiction of the apex court to State associations and said the Lodha reforms needed a bigger debate.

New Delhi, Jan. 20: With the Supreme Court making it clear that a cumulative period of 18 years as per the July 18 verdict stands, the two executive functionaries — joint secretary Amitabh Chaudhry and treasurer Aniruddh Chaudhary are expected to resume office.

DDCA official C.K. Khanna on capacity of being seniormost BCCI vice-president will be the acting president.

Friday’s order also means that Ratnakar Shetty and M.V. Sridhar will continue in their respective capacities as GM (Game Development) and GM (Cricket Operations) after there were complaints about them having been office bearers in their respective states for more than nine years.

However all the office bearers will have a short term as the Supreme Court appointed threemember administrative committee will be taking over from January 24.

The administrators will certainly take a few months to set the house in order during which they are supposed to implement the Lodha reforms, oversee the change of constitution and a smooth conduct of the elections in the parent body as well as the state.

However it will be Jharkhand’s Amitabh, who now will get back his executive powers to convene meetings while treasurer Aniruddh will be an authorised signatory in financial matters till the administrators form the Apex Council.

It is therefore expected that the convenor for Indian team’s selection for the one-off Test against Bangladesh will be convened by Amitabh Chaudhary. — PTI