Crisis-hit BCCI mulls SC warning, calls special meeting

Legal committee calls for a crisis-time SGM

Mumbai, February 7

Cornered by the Supreme Court's latest warning to “fall in line” with the recommendations of the Justice RM Lodha Committee, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) today decided to convene a Special General Meeting (SGM) before responding to the Apex Court.

BCCI president Shashank Manohar, himself a lawyer, attended the meeting of its legal panel here. The others who attended the meeting were PS Raman (Tamil Nadu, chairman), DVSS Somayajulu (Andhra Pradesh) 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, a 21-day 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 that “there is no reason to disagree with the committee which has the most illuminated and respected members of the legal community”.

The Supreme Court had granted the BCCI a time of four weeks to give its response. The court, however, had made it very clear that there should not be any difficulty in accepting the recommendations. These remarks by a bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur came after senior advocate Shekhar Naphade, representing the BCCI, said there was the need to consult the 30-odd members of the BCCI on the recommendations; he also said that in view of its legal committee's meeting today, four weeks be allowed to the BCCI to respond.

However, the bench said that “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 Supreme Court remarked.

“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 that “decks must be cleared for complete reform”.

When Naphade said several technical problems would arise in implementing the recommendations as the BCCI is registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, the bench said it would give the solution. — PTI