Amicus urges officials to regain control of BCCI

After over three years of wrangling over implementing reforms suggested for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Supreme Court’s amicus curiae wants the cricket officials to quickly complete the process and regain control of the cash-rich body.

PS Narasimha was appointed by the Supreme Court to help it resolve objections by cricket officials over implementing the Justice RM Lodha committee recommendations submitted in January, 2016 in letter and spirit.

After elaborate discussions with various state units, Narasimha now wants the officials to regain control of the Board as early as possible.

He has held 150 hours of deliberations with state associations, Committee of Administrators (CoA) and BCCI. Narasimha says the ball is in the Board’s court. Elections have not been held to BCCI posts since 2016 as the reform process has to be completed.

“A lot of issues have been resolved (between CoA and state bodies over adopting the new constitution).

“Lots of associations have been saying they want to go for elections. All, except a couple, want elections. The thing is once they go for elections, the democratic process will begin and an elected body will come. It is for them to take decisions. They should now take a call on what they want to do,” said Narasimha, who is pushing to complete the reform process. While some state units filed objections (interlocutory applications in legal parlance) before him, the Supreme Court is on vacation and will hear the issue next only in July.

The amicus said there is more clarity on issues now and hence the parties need to sit together and resolve the matter. Out of 36 state units, 29 have come on board.

“A lot of bodies have said they have no issues on whatever is directed by Lodha, and will comply. It is up to them to decide on elections. There is no stay on elections. It is they who wanted objections to be heard.

“Everyone should sort it out. There has been enough fighting, no one is gaining. CoA should also coordinate with them and bring it to a beautiful conclusion,” he said.

“If somebody wants to argue, they can do that after the court reopens, but something positive needs to be done. It should end as early as possible, I want to put an end to it.”

The amicus said the Lodha recommendations were not rigid and didn’t say the constitution that applies for BCCI also applies for state bodies.

“Lodha never said anything about state units, SC only asked to do it on ‘similar lines’. Similar lines didn’t mean it should be done with mathematical precision—like every apex council needs to have nine members. That is what I brought about. It can’t be such a rigid rule because BCCI has only 36 members whereas some states have 1000, 2000 members. The CoA thought they were bound by the judgement and said nobody advised us over it. But they appreciate it now.”

The CoA said it has agreed to expanding state unit’s council.