Top court clarifies on BCCI order

The Supreme Court on Tuesday clarified that not only the BCCI office-bearers but any member of a state association would also stand disqualified if he or she was at the helm of the cricketing body’s affairs for a cumulative period of nine years.

A bench presided over by Chief Justice T S Thakur modified its order passed on Monday. Amicus curiae Gopal Subramaniam pointed out to the court the inadvertent error in the order.

The order stated only such BCCI office-bearers would cease to exist who occupied the post for a total period of nine years. Among other conditions, the Lodha Committee has recommended that a member of the BCCI and a state cricket association would be debarred if he has completed nine years in a post.

Meanwhile, the bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, allowed senior advocate F S Nariman’s plea to withdraw himself from acting as an amicus curiae for suggesting the names of administrators to the board after the removal of BCCI president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke. Nariman expressed his inability as he had been retained by the BCCI in 2009.

The court, accepting Nariman’s plea, appointed senior advocate Anil Divan as amicus curiae in his place.