Government of India jumps into BCCI vs Lodha Committee case in the SC

The Supreme Court of India today heard the BCCI vs Lodha Committee case once again. While the proceedings went underway Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi representing the central government put up a request in the SC asking the panel to give another thought on the decision to sack some of the top BCCI officials that included former president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke.

SC had also sought help from amicus curiae Gopal Subramaniam and Anil Divan to suggest six names who could be appointed in the next committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The amicus curiae handed over the court a sealed envelope with nine suggestions. BCCI’s counsel for the case Kapil Sibal also expressed his objection over the list submitted by the amicus curiae.

But the court found that all the names in the list were over the age of 70 which contradicts the Lodha Committee’s recommendation which prevents administrators over 70 years of age to hold positions in the board. Subramaniam was asked to hand a list of six individuals out of which three should be cricketers who in their view are the most suited to take over as administrators to ensure the smooth implementation of the Lodha Committee’s suggestions.

The SC didn’t give a judgement today, will do so by Wednesday and has asked both Subramaniam and Divanas to not reveal the names in the list out in public until a decision has been made. It also felt that a nine-member administrator’s panel was too large in size.

Also read- Allan Border not impressed with Australian team selection for the tour of India

In the last hearing, the court had sacked the then BCCI president Thakur and secretary Shirke for obstructing the implementations of the Lodha Panel’s suggestions. They were also handed over show cause notice and asked to respond why a perjury case should not be initiated against them. Today the apex court decided to initiate proceedings against Thakur for contempt of the court.