Fall in line, implement Lodha report: SC to BCCI

Cricket body seeks four weeks to take decision

The Supreme Court on Thursday told the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to “fall in line” and implement the reforms recommended by the Justice Lodha committee.

The apex court warned that if the BCCI failed to act, it would direct the committee to ensure compliance of the report, intended to bring sweeping changes in the cricket board.

Observing that the committee’s recommendations are “straight, understandable and rational”, a bench of Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justice F M I Kalifullah observed, “We have no reasons to disagree with what the committee has said.”

“The BCCI should fall in line and follow the recommendations. Decks must be cleared for complete reforms. The report deserves some respect as it came from well-meaning members of the fraternity who held consultations with all the stake holders. They have come out with a rationale and viable solution to problems. It may hurt some people, holding some positions of power,” the bench added.

Appearing for the BCCI, senior advocate Shekhar Naphade sought four weeks’ time for the board to take a decision on implementing the reforms. Naphade said the BCCI legal committee is going to meet on February 7. Though the court agreed to fix the matter for consideration on March 3, it expressed its displeasure when Naphade submitted there were certain issues like that of jurisdiction before taking a final call on the Lodha panel’s report.

“The BCCI is registered with TN Societies Registration Act. There are some practical problems. The question is if we can have territorial jurisdiction...we are not having any obstructionist attitude,” the counsel said, adding the BCCI is also awaiting response from 30 odd members.

To this, the bench said, “We can provide easy solutions. We will accept the recommendation and ask the panel to help in implementing the recommendations...we don't intend to pass detailed order. We will say the BCCI is facing difficulty in the implementing the order.” Naphade then responded, “I see the writing on the wall, the court may keep the matter after four weeks.”