BCCI to convene SGM before responding to SC

Mumbai, February 7

Cornered by the Supreme Court’s latest missive to “fall in line” with the recommendations of the Justice RM Lodha Committee, the BCCI on Sunday decided to convene a Special General Meeting before responding to the apex court.

BCCI president Shashank Manohar, himself a lawyer by profession, attended the meeting of its legal panel here comprising PS Raman (Tamil Nadu, chairman), DVSS Somayajulu (Andhra) and Abhay Apte (Maharashtra), along with treasurer Anirudh Chaudhary.

It is learnt, that in the meeting, it was decided that an SGM would be convened at the earliest to get the views of the BCCI’s various affiliates before it responds to the Supreme Court on the issue.

As per the BCCI’s Memorandum of Rules and Regulations, 21 days’ notice has to be given to convene an SGM, but the president has the discretionary powers to direct the secretary to convene an SGM “at shorter notice in which case as a notice of at least 10 days shall be given.”

The apex court had said on February 4 that the recommendations are “straight, rational and understandable” and “deserve respect” and “there is no reason to disagree with the committee” which has the most “illuminated and respected members of the legal community”.

While four weeks time was granted to the BCCI to respond to the implementation of the recommendations, the court had made it clear that there should not be any difficulty in accepting the recommendations.

The remarks by a Bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur came after senior advocate Shekhar Naphade, representing the BCCI, said there was a need to consult the 30-odd members of the Board on the recommendations and in view of its legal committee’s meeting today, four weeks be allowed to respond.

However, the Bench said “they all have been heard and have given their views to the Committee. Ask your client to take a strict view of the recommendations. You can’t jump the gun.

“You must see the recommendations. These recommendations deserve respect.

“They have come from the most illuminated and respected members of the legal community. They had invited people and have done extensive deliberations with all stakeholders. The recommendations are straightforward, understandable and rational.”

“The best thing is to fall in line and follow the suggestions to save the trouble,” the bench, which also comprised Justice FMI Kalifulla, said.

The BCCI had submitted that it should not be seen as “obstructionist” and it would come back with “concrete suggestions” after the meeting of the legal committee.

However, the Bench said “decks must be cleared for complete reform”.

When Naphade said several technical problems would arise in implementing the recommendations of the committee as the BCCI is registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, the Bench said it would give the solution for following the suggestions.

The Bench, which was hearing the plea filed by Aditya Verma, Secretary of Cricket Association of Bihar, on whose petition N. Srinivasan was asked by the apex court to step down as the BCCI president for conflict of interest, posted the matter for further hearing on March 3. — PTI