Another blow to BCCI; SC dismisses its review petition

New Delhi: In a major setback to Board of Cricket for Control in India (BCCI), the Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed former’s petition urging the court to review the verdict supporting Lodha committee’s administrative reforms.

"The judgement is unconstitutional and contrary to many binding precedents of this Court and adversely affects and nullifies the fundamental rights granted to citizens under Article 19(1)(c) of the Constitution. The judgement outsources judicial power to a committee of retired judges, which is impermissible in law,” the BCCI pleaded..

"The judgement is a nullity as the judges were functus officio after passing of the main judgment of January 22, 2015 and the matter could not have been revived suo motu as no provision of law empowers the same and is contrary to the doctrine of separation of powers and contrary to settled law that the judiciary cannot make laws," the plea added.

Earlier, the SC had came down heavily on BCCI for not implementing the Lodha Committee recommendations saying, “we know how to get orders implemented.”

What chief justice TS Thakur who heard the case had said :

• BCCI thinks it is a law unto itself.
• We know how to get our orders implemented.
• BCCI thinks it is the lord.
• You (BCCI) better fall in line or we will make you fall in line.
• The conduct of the BCCI is deplorable.

It may be recalled that former Indian cricketers including Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri were against the recommendations and had termed them ‘too harsh’.

The recommendations included:

• Civil servants above 70 years age are prohibited from becoming its members
• Court accepts Lodha Committees’ recommendation of having a CAG nominee in the BCCI
• SC rejected BCCI’s objection against recommendation of one-State-one-vote
• States like Maharashtra and Gujarat will have voting rights on a rotational basis
• There should be a players association in the BCCI
• One person should hold one post in cricket administration to avoid any conflict of interest
• SC asks Parliament to decide whether BCCI should come under RTI or not
• Decision of legalising the betting is also left with the parliament
• Bench requested a three-member panel to look after the transition of administrative structure in the BCCI

Also read:

BCCI vs Lodha Panel: SC postpones verdict until Oct 17

Lodha committee clarifies: Did not direct to seize BCCI’s accounts