The Supreme Court on Monday made it clear to the Board of Control for Cricket in India that the recommendations of the Justice Lodha Committee to ensure reforms in the administration of cricket cannot be frustrated by raising objections.
A bench of Chief Justice T.S. Thakur and Justice Ibrahim Kalifulla is hearing a batch of petitions from the BCCI and state cricket associations opposing implementation of the Lodha report.
The CJI told counsel for parties the recommendations were aimed at ensuring transparency, objectivity and accountability, which cannot be stifled or frustrated by the board or any other person. He said the “one state one vote” principle was in no way violative of Article 19(1)(c) which guaranteed every citizen a fundamental right to form an association.
CJI told senior counsel Shyam Divan appearing for Cricket Club of India that the protection under Article 19(1)(c) was available only to an individual citizen and not to any organisation or club. He asked, “What was the purpose of the recommendations. Clearly the committee wanted more transparency, objectivity. Make it more responsive to the needs. If there is a structure that is more responsive, why should that structure be challenged or should be obstructed.”
The CJI observed “The purpose was to achieve a very laudable objective to make the BCCI more responsible, transparent and accountable. Provide confidence and credibility. It cannot be stifled or frustrated. All your actions must inspire confidence.”
Divan submitted that CCI was one of the founding members of BCCI which also owns Brabourne Stadium, one of the oldest stadiums in the country, cannot be deprived of voting rights by the Lodha panel.
Maharashtra has four votes in the BCCI — the Mumbai Cricket Assoc-iation, CCI, Vidharbha Cricket Association and Maharashtra Cricket Ass-ociation. Several north-eastern states like Manipur, Nagaland, Megh-alaya, and Sikkim do not have any vote. The arguments resume on Tuesday.
