SC rejects names suggested by BCCI for interim committee

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday turned down the names suggested by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for its administrators.

The top court, however, allowed the board and the Centre to suggest the names for an interim panel to oversee the daily operations of the sport in India.

An order was passed directing the BCCI and the Centre to submit their recommendations by January 27, so that the apex court will be able to deliver its verdict on January 30.

While rejecting the suggested names, the top court said that any individual over the age of 70 will not be allowed any post in BCCI administration.

Opposing the decision, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi appealed the court to delay the verdict by two weeks.

The SC on Monday asked the Centre for its response on a petition asking for the formation of a Lodha Panel-like committee in order to keep a check into all the irregularities in various sports across the country.

The petition was heard by a three-member apex court bench headed by Chief Justice of India Jagdish Singh Khehar. The petitioner had sought for the intervention of the Supreme Court for directing the Centre to constitute a Lodha Panel-like committee.

The new committee would be required to monitor and probe if there is any kind of corruption or irregularities are reported in any sport in the country.

The Supreme Court in January 2015 had formed a three-member panel led by Justice RM Lodha after the allegations of corruption, match-fixing and betting scandals in Indian Premier League (IPL) came in light. The panel was formed to look into the functioning of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and suggest reforms.