SC seeks govt’s reply on PIL over badminton chief

NEWDELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday sought the Centre’s response on a PIL seeking removal of Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma from the post of president of the Badminton Association of India (BAI), alleging that his appointment was in violation of the apex court order that a minister or a public servant cannot become an officebearer in a sports body.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud issued notice to the Centre asking it to file a response within eight weeks after which it will hear the matter again.

Senior advocate Shanti Bhushan, appearing for petitioner Kamlesh Verma, a Delhi resident, alleged that Sarma was facing graft charges in the Saradha chit fund scam and had been summoned by CBI in the matter.

He said that as per Justice RM Lodha committee recommendations on reforms in the BCCI, there was a bar on ministers and civil servants and those above 70 from becoming its member.

The petition has sought a direction to appoint a committee of administrators, as done by the top court in the case of BCCI in 2016, to ensure smooth functioning of BAI.

It has also sought the court’s direction to supersede other office-bearers of BAI with immediate effect and call for relevant records pertaining to sports body’s financial transactions ever since Sarma took charge as its president.