Justice D Y Chandrachud-led bench to hear BCCI matters, says SC

The Supreme Court Wednesday said a new bench presided over by Justice D Y Chandrachud will consider matters related to the Board of Cricket Control for India (BCCI).

A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice N V Ramana noted that previously in August 2018, an order was passed in the BCCI matter by a bench of then Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud.

"Since the other two judges on the bench have retired and only Justice Chandrachud is there, the BCCI matter will be referred to a bench headed by Justice Chandrachud," the CJI said.

The BCCI has moved applications seeking permission to amend its constitution.

On July 21, the top court had appointed senior advocate and former Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh as amicus curiae in order to assist in a case relating to the BCCI. The order had come as previous amicus curiae P S Narasimha was not available any more, as he has been elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court.

The BCCI sought amendment in its Constitution — prepared on the recommendation of the Justice R M Lodha committee — to waive off cooling off period for the office bearers.

The tenure of Sourav Ganguly as BCCI president and Jay Shah, as secretary, will end in September 2022. Currently, their tenure is technically under extension since the court has not conducted a hearing on the plea for amendment of the rules.

The Lodha committee had mandated a three-year cooling off, after six years in the position for an office bearer, either at the state level or the BCCI.

During an AGM in December 2019, the BCCI proposed six amendments, including one in Rule 6 of the Constitution, which had barred BCCI and state board office bearers from holding office for more than six consecutive years.