BCCI v/s Lodha: Amicus Curiae submits 9 names for admin posts, AG asks SC to reconsider verdict

[Kool_SRG]

On Friday, the Amicus Curiae submitted 9 names for post of administrators in the BCCI in a sealed cover. The SC said it would appoint administrators for BCCI on Jan 24 from the list of persons given by amicus curiae Anil Dival and Gopal Subramaniam. The names given would remain a secret.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Mukul Rohtagi asked the court to reconsider its decision claiming that though the BCCI was a private body, its work partially affected the government. The SC also modified its order by which a person with tenure of 9 years in state bodies and BCCI couldn’t hold a post. The SC said the tenure of an office bearer in state associations or BCCI should not be considered cumulatively.

A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra directed that the names provided by senior advocates Anil Divan and Gopal Subramaniam, who have been appointed as amicus curiae to assist the court, for being appointed as BCCI administrators be kept secret.

The amicus were asked to suggest the names of persons who could be best suitable as administrators for BCCI. The bench, also comprising justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, agreed to consider the plea of Railways, Services and Association of Universities which lost the full memberships status and were downgraded as associate members.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for them, said that the judgement should be recalled and revisited as larger questions have not been answered.

According to a report India Today, former captain Bishen Singh Bedi and wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer were included in this list. This goes against Lodha recommendations which suggest that members over 70 shouldn’t hold an administrative post.

Earlier, the SC had cracked the whip against a defiant BCCI for not complying with its orders to implement the Lodha Committee report. The court had sacked BCCI president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke and made BCCI CEO Rahul Johri to handle day-to-day operations.