The apex court on Thursday (August 9) diluted some key recommendations made by the Justice R M Lodha panel relating to reform of cricket administration in the country, while approving the draft constitution for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra introduced certain modifications in the ‘One State-One Vote’ policy and interpretation of the cooling-off period for BCCI office bearers.

The bench granted the status of full members individually to three prominent associations each in Gujarat and Maharashtra which were earlier having full membership right on a rotational basis.

Gujarat will also have Gujarat Cricket Association, Saurashtra Cricket Association and Baroda Cricket Association as individual members, while in Maharashtra the Maharashtra Cricket Association, Mumbai Cricket Association and Vidarbha Cricket Association will enjoy status of individual members.

Both states’ associations will have full members, voting rights and also the right to participate in Annual General Meetings.

The bench also granted full membership to the Railways, the Tri-Services, and Association of Indian Universities considering the fact that these institutions were more than hundred years old and have contributed to the game.

The norm of cooling-off period was also altered. Instead of a three-year cooling off period after every term, the bench stated that the clause will set in after two consecutive terms.

The bench directed the BCCI and the state associations to follow the new constitution in letter and spirit. The bench also made it clear that the constitution would be binding on the BCCI and its affiliate bodies.

The bench, however, did not dilute the functioning of Committee of Administrators (CoA) and directed it to supervise the developments and report back in case of non-adherence by any state association.

As regards to the elections, the top court directed the state associations to carry out elections after embracing the new constitution.

The top court had earlier directed state cricket associations and office-bearers of the BCCI to give suggestions on the draft constitution for the BCCI to the amicus by perusing the Lodha panel recommendations and its verdict.

The Justice Lodha panel had suggested a slew of systemic reforms in the BCCI such as one state-one vote, one member-one post and fixing an age-cap of 70 years on those occupying BCCI posts. These suggestions were accepted by the apex court.

—India Legal Bureau