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In a shot in the arm for the BCCI , the Supreme Court has approved the draft constitution of BCCI prepared by the Lodha panel with some modifications, giving full membership to Mumbai Cricket Association, Vidarbha, and Railways.
The apex court 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 court also restored full BCCI membership of Railways, Services and Association of Universities, which were cancelled on recommendations of the Supreme Court-appointed Lodha panel.
The apex 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.
Meanwhile, reacting to the Supreme Court order, the Committee of Administrators chief Vinod Rai today welcomed the Supreme Court order on mandatory cooling off period for BCCI office-bearers after two consecutive terms and for putting a roadmap in place for the Board’s elections.
The original Lodha Committee reforms suggested only one term of three years before mandatory cooling off but today’s order allows office-bearers two consecutive terms before the mandatory cooling off.
The Supreme Court’s three-judge bench, headed by Justice Dipak Misra, 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 asked the state cricket associations 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.
