SC Asks BCCI To Implement Lodha Report In The Best Way Possible, Restrains Srinivasan, Niranjan Shah From Attending SGM

“The purpose is to implement the Lodha report as far as practicable and, thereafter, it shall be debated as to how the scheme of things can be considered so that the cricket, the 'gentleman's game', remains nearly perfect”, SC Bench

In further blow to ousted former BCCI President N Srinivasan, and cricket administrator Niranjan Shah, the Supreme Court has restrained them from attending the Special General Meeting (SGM) of the BCCI scheduled to be held on July 26.

A bench of Justices Dipak Misra, A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, said that the SGM shall be attended only by the office bearers of the state cricket associations.

The bench ordered, regard being had to the submissions canvassed at the Bar, we direct as follows;

·         The Special General Meeting shall be held at the time and date fixed.

·         The meeting shall be attended only by the Office Bearers of the Associations, not by nominees or representatives.

·         All concerned shall implement the recommendations of the Justice Lodha Committee Report as far as practicable, barring the issues which have been raised pertaining to membership, number of members of the selection committee, concept of associate membership, etc. The purpose is to implement the report as far as practicable and, thereafter, it shall be debated as to how the scheme of things can be considered so that the cricket, the 'gentleman's game', remains nearly perfect. Be it noted, the issue with regard

The bench fixed the matter for further hearing on August 18 and said it would consider two issues -- the implementation of the Lodha panel recommendations as far as practicable by the state associations as well as the names to fill up the vacancies in the apex court-appointed committee of administrators.

“Ranjit Kumar, learned Solicitor General, Mr. Kapil Sibal and Mr. Puneet Bali, learned senior counsel have submitted their suggestions in sealed covers as to who will be in the Committee of Administrators. The sealed covers be kept on record. The decision in that regard shall be rendered on the next date. List the matter at 2.00 p.m. on 18th August, 2017, for consideration of two issues, namely, the implementation of Justice Lodha Committee report as far as practicable by the B.C.C.I. and the State Associations, which shall be attended only by the Office Bearers and none else and the second, two names which are to be chosen to fill up the vacancies that has arisen in the Committee of Administrators”, said the bench.

Srinivasan who had been removed after being slammed by Supreme Court for blocking reforms made by the RM Lodha panel to change the governance structure in the Board of Control for Cricket in India had offended the court by attending twoBCCI meetings on May 7 and June 26 despite a bar.

The bench headed by justice Dipak Misra has issued a notice to Srinivasan. Along with N. Srinivasan, former BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah of Saurashtra Cricket Association has also been sent a notice for attending BCCI meetings flouting age and tenure guidelines issues by the RM Lodha panel. Both Srinivasan and Niranjan Shah are above 70 years old and are thus ineligible to represent their associations at BCCI.