SC pulls up BCCI for ‘prolonging’ implementation

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court made it clear on Thursday that the BCCI could not “prolong or filibuster” the Lodha panel’s recommendations to change the cricket board’s functioning, including bringing it under the RTI law and making it accountable to the CAG.

A bench headed by chief justice TS Thakur also directed the board to furnish details of funds it released to state cricket bodies in the past five years and asked it to explain whether there was any mechanism to monitor their expenditure.

“This is the easiest way to prolong and filibuster it [implementation of the recommendations]. All of you [state cricket bodies and the BCCI] knew of the hearing before the panel and none of you approached it. But, you all have come here now with your grievances,” the bench told the BCCI counsel and lawyers of various state associations who moved court with their objections to the panel’s recommendations. The bodies have requested the top court to refer the matter back to justice RM Lodha for a review.

Not giving a firm opinion on the plea, the court simply remarked, “It’s an expensive panel. The exercise has cost the BCCI a lot of money.” The bench, also comprising justice FMI Kalifullah, however, added that either the court would examine the issues completely or ask justice Lodha to have a re-look at selective points. The court will continue the hearing on March 18.

CONTINUED ON P13