SC says ineligible people cannot attend ICC meeting

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to consider a plea by the Committee of Administrators (CoA), appointed to run the BCCI, to restrain those declared as ineligible from participating in the board’s special general meeting.

A three-judge bench presided over by Justice Dipak Misra clarified that a person, who is “ineligible” to become an office-bearer in the BCCI and state cricket associations, cannot be nominated to take part in the ICC meeting scheduled on April 24.

“How can a man, who is not eligible to contest, be nominated to represent the BCCI? What you cannot do directly, you cannot do indirectly,” said the bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud.

The court said it would not allow violation of its order after senior advocate C U Singh, representing the court-appointed CoA, sought hearing on the interim plea seeking clarification on whether people, who are rendered ineligible to hold posts in cricket bodies as per the July 18, 2016 judgement, can be nominated as a BCCI representative to take part in the ICC meeting.

“The man who is disqualified stands disqualified. There is a cap of 70 years given by this court. It is difficult to comprehend that a man who is not eligible goes to the ICC to represent the BCCI. We do not want violation of our orders,” the bench said.

The bench, however, fixed the CoA’s plea, headed by former comptroller and auditor general Vinod Rai, for hearing on April 17. Singh also pointed out that former BCCI president N Srinivasan and former official Niranjan Shah had tried to attend the special general meeting of the board on Sunday.

The meeting, however, stood adjourned. Opposing the plea, senior advocate Kapil Sibal said the apex court judgement did not bar them from attending the meeting and representing the board in the ICC meetings.