SC to hear Board inputs on reforms
MUMBAI: The long-drawn court battle over an overhaul of the Indian cricket system, in Board of Control for Cricket in India and its state associations, is set for the climax, though it remains to be seen whether the Supreme Court gives a final order on Friday.
Asking the protesting officials of the Board and its units to submit suggestions for changes in the draft constitution is seen as the last step before the court gives its final verdict on implementing the Justice RM Lodha Committee report on administrative reform.
The matter is up for hearing on Friday when the amicus curiae will present the suggestions and comments of the Committee of Administrators against it. In its order at the last hearing this month, the SC had said it will not entertain further submissions.
The main resistance of the BCCI members has been to one state, one vote, tenure restrictions and age cap and cooling-off period.
Given that the Vinod Rai-led CoA has said issues like one state, one vote and full membership of institutions like Railways, Services and Indian Universities should be considered, there’s a chance of the court might reverse the Lodha Committee recommendations on it.
However, the state unit officials getting any respite on tenure, age and cooling-off will be up to the Supreme Court.
The need for the selection committee to revert to five members -it was crunched to three as per the Lodha report -- is also identified for consideration.
The North East units, who are hoping to be made full members with voting rights as per the Lodha report, have submitted that the tenure of their officebearers be counted afresh, from the day the order is passed.
In what will come as relief to the three associations in Maharashtra (Mumbai, Vidarbha and Maharashtra) and Gujarat (Baroda, Gujarat and Saurashtra), the CoA has given a positive feedback on the suggestion that all units should retain full membership.
The CoA has also recommended that the membership of Services, Railways and Universities be treated separately from that of NCC (National Cricket Club, Kolkata) and CCI (Cricket Club of India, Mumbai) considering the role played by the three institutions in Indian cricket.