The Supreme Court on Tuesday (January 16) asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to reply why e-auction cannot be done of cricket broadcasting rights to make the process more transparent. The Board has been given two weeks time to file their response.

The Supreme Court on August 28 had turned down a petition filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy’s for e-auction of media rights for the IPL cricket matches. The court had then said that the idea of e-auctioning will be taken up for consideration at the next hearing.

The apex court bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chnadrachud had then said that an e-auction wasn’t necessary and it will not interfere with the media rights process. The decision came after the BCCI told the court that an e-auction would harm the Board’s revenue interests and that the court should not interfere in the bidding process.

However, it was reportedly said that the Board was also mulling over e-auctioning the bidding process.

—India Legal Bureau