Draft constitution of BCCI submitted to Supreme Court

A draft constitution of the BCCI was submitted to the Supreme Court in a sealed cover on Monday, incorporating suggestions of the Justice R M Lodha panel on reforms in the cash-rich cricket body.

Also, the apex court, which had summoned BCCI office-bearers C K Khanna, Amitabh Choudhary and Aniruddh Chaudhry for allegedly coming in the way of the preparations of the draft constitution, took note of their personal appearance, and exempted them from appearing before it on November 29, the next date of hearing.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra made it clear that it would not allow any plea now seeking to intervene in the ongoing proceedings, saying that they would be “cruelly” rejected.

“In pursuance of an earlier order, the draft constitution has been filed. The personal appearance of the office-bearers is now dispensed away with,” the bench, which also had Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, said.

Earlier, the bench had summoned the three officials after it was alleged that they had been stalling the process of framing of draft constitution in accordance with its judgement, and had warned them of serious consequences if they failed to give suggestions. The top court had said the draft constitution should include the suggestions of the Lodha committee in its entirety so that a holistic document can be placed before it for a final decision. The three officials were also present in the court in compliance with its August 23 order summoning them to appear before it.

The court had earlier expressed displeasure that the directions given by it and its order on the recommendations of the Lodha panel had not been implemented yet.

The bench had directed the Committee of Administrators to prepare a draft constitution of the BCCI in terms of its earlier judgement and order on the Lodha panel recommendations.

The Justice Lodha panel had recommended a slew of structural reforms in BCCI which were approved by the apex court.

It had approved the Lodha panel’s recommendations such as ‘one state, one vote’; ‘one member, one post’; and fixing an age-cap of 70 years on those occupying BCCI posts.