Supreme Court admonishes ‘obstinate’ BCCI bosses, no order on new constitution

The Supreme Court on Thursday rebuked three top Board of Control for Cricket in India officials for blocking the implementation of the proposals made by the Justice RM Lodha panel last year. (INDIA vs AUSTRALIA 2nd ODI LIVE)

Three senior BCCI officials --- acting president CK Khanna, acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary and treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry --- were reprimanded for their “obstinate behaviour” that prevented the BCCI and its units from accepting the Lodha Committee proposals in totality.

In July last year, the Supreme Court had made it binding on the BCCI to accept among others rigid clauses on age and tenure of office-bearers, membership and voting and the formation of an all-powerful apex council.

The Supreme Court stopped short of enforcing a new Memorandum of Association on the BCCI, allowing the cricket Board more time to review and present its viewpoint. The new rulebook was prepared by the Committee of Administrators on the basis of the proposals made by the Lodha Committee.

The next hearing is on October 30.

During Thursday’s hearing, the bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra and including Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud, expressed anguish over the “obstinate behaviour” of Khanna, Choudhary and Chaudhry, which, the top court said, was coming in the way of preparing the draft constitution.

In an affidavit filed by Amitabh Choudhary on September 15, the Jharkhand official had said that he was in favour of the Lodha recommendations but a section of the BCCI was steadfastly delaying their execution.

The BCCI’s bid to remove Cricket Association of Bihar’s appeal for reinstatement as a full member was rejected by the Supreme Court. Bihar is among 30 states who deserve membership, according to the draft constitution presented by the CoA.