State body officers can hold BCCI posts after 9 years: SC

A BENCH HEADED BY JUSTICE MISRA SAID THAT ‘DOUBTS ARE CREATED’ REGARDING THE ELIGIBILITY OF AN OFFICE BEARER AFTER THE JANUARY 20 ORDER

The Supreme Court clarified on Friday that an office-bearer who has served nine years at a state association is eligible to hold a post in the BCCI thereafter. The same holds for the opposite case as well.

On January 3, a bench headed by then Chief Justice TS Thakur had modified the disqualification criteria, saying that any office bearer of the BCCI or a state association holding posts for a cumulative period of nine years will stand disqualified thereafter.

Later on January 20, a bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra modified the order again and dropped the word ‘cumulative’.

On Friday, a bench headed by Justice Misra said that ‘doubts are created’ regarding the eligibility of an office bearer after the January 20 order.

The clarification came when Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Railways, Services and Association of Universities, alleged that the apex court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) had claimed that the court’s order on this issue was not ‘clear’.

“What has been meant by the order is that, if an office bearer has completed nine years in any post in the BCCI, he shall stand disqualified to become an office bearer of the BCCI.

“Similarly, if a person holds the post of office bearer in any capacity for any state association for nine years, he shall stand disqualified for contesting or holding any post or office of the state association,” the bench, also comprising Justices DY Chandrachud and AM Khanwilkar, said.

The Court also asked the CoA to release funds to Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association for holding the 4th India-Australia test that begins Saturday.