NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday approved the draft constitution of BCCI prepared by the Justice RM Lodha Committee with certain “alterations”, giving full membership to Mumbai Cricket Association, Vidarbha, and Railways.
The three-judge Bench of of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud, also discarded the ‘One State One Vote’ policy recommended by the Lodha panel, and granted membership to Saurashtra, Vadodara, Mumbai and Vidarbha Cricket Associations.
The apex court also restored full BCCI membership to Railways, Services and Association of Universities, which were cancelled on recommendations of the Supreme Court-appointed Lodha panel.
Justice Chandrachud, who wrote the verdict for the Bench, cited the historical existence and contribution of these cricketing bodies in the rise and growth of the game in India.
The Justice Lodha panel had argued that that BCCI memberships should be distributed state-wise to ensure more participation and opportunities across the country.
The court also made changes in the cooling-off period of the BCCI officers. As per the amendments, the BCCI office bearers will be allowed to serve two consecutive terms, instead of one as recommmended by the Lodha panel, after which the cooling-off period would kick in.
This would be applicable across the spectrum of BCCI, its members and or a combination of both.
The Bench, in its order, granted four weeks time to register the new modified constitution of BCCI with the Tamil Nadu Registrar of Societies.
The court also ruled that state cricket associations were required to adopt the BCCI constitution within 30 days of the order and intimate the SC-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA). It further warned state cricket associations that non-compliance to the order will invite actions.
