BCCI all set for AGM despite Supreme Court directive
The Lodha panel had clarified that the BCCI AGM should not conduct any business for 2016-17. If it does that, it could be construed as contempt of court.
Published : Sep 17, 2016 21:48 IST
The BCCI's Annual General Meeting is scheduled for September 21. Once it was revealed that the election of the secretary (re-election of Ajay Shirke as secretary) was one of the agendas of the meeting, the Lodha panel had clarified that the BCCI AGM should not conduct any business for 2016-17. If it does that, it could be construed as contempt of court.
However, the BCCI is in no mood to relent. Based on legal advice, including that of former Supreme Court judge Markandeya Katju, the BCCI has decided to continue with the AGM and make all the routine appointments as per its existing rules and regulations.
While the BCCI is willing to take it up with the apex court, some of the state association officials are not happy with the manner in which the BCCI is dealing with the situation. It is likely that one of the east or south zone member representatives may raise a query in this regard either during the AGM or at the customary dinner of all BCCI members on the eve of it.
The Supreme Court on July 18 had ordered the BCCI to adopt administrative reforms, including a new administrative set-up and rules and regulations in “four, at the most six months.” The apex court had also appointed the Justice R. N. Lodha Committee, which had earlier recommended reforms, to oversee the implementation.
However, the BCCI has continued to take the apex court head on and has not only filed a review petition against the order, but also asked the Chief Justice of India, T. S. Thakur, who was a member of the two-judge bench that delivered the landmark verdict, to recuse himself from the review petition.
Amidst this standoff, the Lodha Committee had already directed the BCCI to adopt the new constitution by September 30 as one of the measures of the implementation of the order in its first stage. However, the BCCI has convened the AGM without paying heed to the September 30 deadline.