Above: Chairman of CoA, Vinod Rai (file picture). Photo: Photo Division

The Supreme Court has decided that while it will not interfere in the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) auctioning of television rights this year, the idea of e-auctioning will be taken up at the next hearing for consideration.

SC had sought a response from the BCCI on why broadcasting rights for cricket matches will not be sold through e-auction. The BCCI had replied that e-auction of broadcasting rights was not possible and that the court should not intervene as the bidding process was already on.

The top court has also asked the Committee of Administrators (CoA), appointed by it, to assist the court in deciding the issue.

On Monday BJP MP Subramanian Swami pressed on prayers made by him which comprise:
a) Direct the BCCI to do allotment of media rights via e-auction

b) Do any future allotment of any right which generates revenue via e-auction.

Swami also submitted that Justice Lodha also made recommendations to this regard that it should be done under e-auction.

Senior advocate AM Singhvi gave two examples when e-auction garnered Rs 700 crores less revenue than normal auctioning.

The top court bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud ordered: “Affidavit has been filed by Mr Vinod Rai, chairman CoA. In view of this we are not inclined to pass any order to present auction to this year. However, we are not closing the matter. We will deal with the issue on the next date. No stay on this year’s auctioning process.

—India Legal Bureau