It’s disgusting, says Lodha

The indications from the Supreme Court on Thursday that some of the reforms would be diluted have left Justice (Retd.) R.M. Lodha “disappointed.”

The Lodha Committee had suggested sweeping reforms to ensure transparency in cricket administration, including a cooling-off period for the officials after each term and a policy of ‘One State One Vote’.

The indications from the Supreme Court on Thursday that some of the reforms would be diluted have left Justice (Retd.) R.M. Lodha “disappointed.”

The Lodha Committee had suggested sweeping reforms to ensure transparency in cricket administration, including a cooling-off period for the officials after each term and a policy of ‘One State One Vote’.

“The very objective of better governance would be defeated if the reforms, especially related to cooling-off and ‘One State One Vote’ are diluted. These two recommendations are integral part of the reforms. In fact, they play a huge part in the process to remove the monopoly of some officials to stay in their posts. It is bound to impact transparency. Without cooling-off period, some officials would establish their monopoly on cricket administration,” Justice Lodha said.

Vehement opposition

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), especially units like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Haryana, have vehemently opposed the reforms. “The purpose of reforms was to have a constitution which will eradicate such practices. Cricket governance in India must adopt transparent ways.”

On some of the cricket units of the BCCI conducting elections without adopting the new constitution, Justice Lodha observed, “It is for the Supreme Court to take a call on that. The new constitution will be uniform for all the units and binding too.”

The Supreme Court hearing comes a day after the Committee of Administrators (CoA) had submitted its ninth status report. The CoA had requested for finalisation of the new constitution since most of the BCCI-affiliated units had refused to co-operate.

Reflecting on the stand taken by the BCCI and the possibility of the reforms being diluted, Justice Lodha said “it is disgusting as far as I am concerned.’