SC pulls up BCCI over Lodha report, tells it to ''fall in line''

New Delhi, September 28

The Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up the BCCI, asking it to “fall in line” after the Justice RM Lodha panel sought removal of the top brass of the BCCI, including its president Anurag Thakur and Secretary Ajay Shirke, for non-compliance of the apex court directions.

The Lodha panel, in its status report filed before the apex court, had sought the replacement of top brass of the cricket body with cricket administrators.

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It said that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and its office-bearers are not complying with directions and repeatedly issuing statements to undermine the authority of the court and the members of the Lodha panel, which had recommended structural reforms in the BCCI.

The counsel appearing for the panel said the BCCI is not replying to emails and other communications sent to them and repeatedly defying the orders of the court.

The Bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur took note of the submissions and said these are serious allegations and the BCCI has to follow the directions of the court.

“If the BCCI thinks that they are law unto themselves, then they are wrong. They have to comply with the directions of the court,” the Bench also comprising Justice AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud said.

“You (BCCI) are behaving like Lords. Fall in line, otherwise we will make you fall in line,” the Bench said, adding that, “the BCCI is bringing the system to disrepute by not following the directions”.

Senior advocate Arvind Datar appearing for the BCCI said they had complied with most of the directions and would gradually comply with the rest.

To this the Bench said, “Law needs not to be defied. We are not happy about the things going on. We anticipated this approach from the BCCI but this is not done. You will have to fall in line with the directions of the court.” The Cricket Association of Bihar also approached the apex court and said that the review petition pending before the court should be taken up urgently.

They said the review petition filed by the BCCI is still in defects with the registry and they are not pursuing it to be taken up for hearing.

The Bench posted the matter for hearing on October 6. — PTI