The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to examine a plea for early hearing of an application seeking forthwith enforcement of the recommendations made by the Justice RM Lodha panel to ensure transparency in the working of the BCCI.
A bench of Chief Justice T.S. Thakur and Justice R. Banumathi told counsel Amit Pai, appearing for Aditya Verma, that it would examine the plea for early enforcement of the January 4 recommendations made by the Supreme Court appointed Lodha panel.
The Justice Lodha committee has recommended sweeping reforms in the functioning of the BCCI. While suggesting that betting in cricket and other sports be legalised, the panel barred ministers and government servants from holding the post of any office-bearer in the BCCI and also introduced the concept of ‘one person, one post’ in the administration.
It said the Supreme Court has left us in no doubt about its grave concern about the place at which Indian cricket finds itself today.
The “cloud over the working of the BCCI” has left followers of the game “worried and deeply suspicious about what goes on in the name of the game”
The panel said “Cricket is a national sport that connects the people of India in a unique way. The BCCI which administers the game in the nation, however, continues to be mired in one controversy after another.”
It said: “Although the BCCI discharges public functions, its working is perceived as a closed door and back-room affair, not accountable to those who are affected by its decisions nor to those who matter most — the cricket fans. At stake therefore are the faith, love and passion for the game of hundreds of millions of people. It proposed separate governing bodies for the BCCI and the Indian Premier League in a bid to partially segregate their functioning, while also suggesting a one-state-one-member pattern for the board.”
The panel which also included former apex court justices Ashok Bhan and R.V. Raveendran wanted separation of the day to day management and the IPL, which it said should be managed by governing body of nine members with the secretary and the treasurer of the BCCI as its ex-officio members.
Two other members of the IPL governing council will be nominated or elected by the full members. Of the remaining five, two will be the nominees of franchises, one will be a representative of the players association (that is to be formed) and one will a nominee of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
