Zafri Mudasser Nofil
If the far-reaching reforms in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ordered by the Supreme Court on the recommendations of the Justice R M Lodha Committee are followed in letter and spirit, Indian cricket can really look forward to its acche din.
The BCCI is in dire need of reforms and has six months time for the clean-up act.
So after the Supreme Court’s stamp of approval, former czars Sharad Pawar and N Srinivasan will have to back out because of the agecap of 70 on those occupying posts in the cash-rich body as also ministers and civil servants.
And when implemented, the Lodha Committee recommendations could also put an end to the tenure of BCCI President Anurag Thakur and Secretary Ajay Shirke from holding top posts in their respective state associations Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra.
“Change it is famously said is all that is constant in the world. And yet the world hates change, no matter, it is only change that has brought progress for mankind,” the Supreme Court said at the outset of its 143-page verdict on July 18.
The Lodha committee was of the view that the apex cricketing body has been “suffering from many ills that had become endemic due to the apathy and involvement of those at the helm of the Board’s administration”.
According to the apex court, “The committee recorded a specific finding that the problems faced by BCCI have been compounded by the involvement or association of many high functionaries in the Central and State Governments some of whom had remained in charge of the administration of BCCI for several decades.
“It also came to the conclusion that many officials of the state associations were holding power without any accountability and transparency by converting the associations into personal fiefdoms.”
The key recommendations of the Lodha panel which found strong favour from the bench of Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justice F M I Kalifulla also included nomination of a member of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India and Accountant General in BCCI and state cricket boards respectively to bring financial transparency in them.
The bench approved the recommendation favouring one state-one vote and one member-one post besides asking Parliament and the Law Commission to mull over suggestions to bring BCCI under the purview of Right to Transparency Act and legalise betting in cricket.
On the capping of upper age limit to 70 years for office bearers of BCCI and three-year term at a stretch, the court referred to National Sports Development Code of India, 2011 which stipulated that president, secretary and treasurer of any recognised national sports federation, including Indian Olympic Association (IOA), shall cease to hold the post on attaining the age of 70 years.
The court also gave its stamp of approval to the recommendations which prescribed a cooling off period between two terms and an optimum period of nine years as a member of the apex council.
“There is no denying the fact that cricketers who play competitive cricket generally fall in the age group of 18 to 35 years. This implies that even after retirement from active cricket anyone who has the potential to contribute to the game can do so for over three decades till he attains the age of 70 years,” the bench said.
“The upper age limit recommended by the Lodha Committee is not, therefore, unreasonable or irrational by any standard,” it said, adding, “The upper age limit of 70 years is not, therefore, an unusual or unacceptable norm so as to warrant our interference with the same.”
Regarding the three-year term recommended by the panel, the bench said it was “reasonable”. “Given the problems that often arise on account of individuals holding office for any number of consecutive terms, the Committee was, in our opinion, justified in recommending the length of a term in office,” it said.
“So also, the prescription of cooling off period between two terms cannot be faulted. Similarly, an optimum period of 9 years as a member of the apex council cannot also be termed as unreasonable,” the bench said.
Regarding barring ministers and bureaucrats from entering the apex cricket body, the court rejected the contention that the posts are honorary in nature and the BCCI is beneficiary of their administrative skills.
“The Committee has in its wisdom found that the holding of office by the ministers and civil servants in the state associations or in the BCCI is not conducive to the health and promotion of the game. The Committee has taken the view that the game would be better managed, promoted and developed if politicians and civil servants who otherwise occupy positions of responsibility in the Government that call for their complete and unstinted attention and commitment are made ineligible from holding any post in the state associations or the BCCI.”
Fixing a six-month deadline for the implementation of the recommendations, the court said, “We accept the report submitted by the Committee and the recommendations made therein with such modifications and clarifications…”
The BCCI has meanwhile convened a special general meeting onAugust 5 in Mumbai to discuss the Supreme Court verdict. After the meeting, the BCCI’s top brass is scheduled to meet the Lodha committee.
The Mumbai Cricket Association has already announced that it will accept all the recommendations and its president Sharad Pawar has agreed to voluntarily step down within six months.
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