‘Ineligible person can’t go to ICC’
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday said a person, who is “ineligible” to become an officebearer in the BCCI and state cricket associations, cannot be nominated to take part in the ICC meeting on April 24.
“How can a man, who is not eligible to contest, be nominated to represent the BCCI? What you cannot do directly, you cannot do indirectly,” a bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra, AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud said, noting that how can it allow violation of its order.
The observations came when the counsel for the apex courtappointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) sought hearing on the interim plea seeking clarification on whether persons, who are rendered ineligible to hold posts in cricket bodies as per the July 18, 2016 judgement, can be nominated as BCCI representative to take part in the ICC meeting.
“The man who is disqualified stands disqualified...There is a cap of 70 years given by this court. It is difficult to comprehend that a man who is not eligible goes to the ICC to represent the BCCI. We do not want violation of our orders,” the bench said.
The bench, however, has fixed the plea of the CoA, headed by former comptroller and auditor general (CAG) Vinod Rai, on the issue for hearing on April 17.
Senior advocate CU Singh, appearing for the CoA, asked if persons like N Srinivasan and Niranjan Shah, rendered ineligible by virtue of the judgement, can participate in the special general body meeting of the BCCI and be nominated to take part in ICC meeting.
The CoA said the apex court had accepted suggestions of the Justice RM Lodha panel on the issue of eligibility criteria for becoming office-bearers in the BCCI and state cricket bodies and one of the conditions was a person, above the age of 70 years, could not hold an office in these bodies.
THE COA SAID THE APEX COURT HAD ACCEPTED SUGGESTIONS OF THE JUSTICE RM LODHA PANEL ON THE ISSUE OF ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR BECOMING OFFICEBEARERS IN THE BCCI