SC to examine validity of BCCI rule allowing conflict of interest

New Delhi, December 15

 

The Supreme Court today agreed to examine tomorrow the validity of the BCCI rule that allows board’s office-bearers to have commercial interest in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Champions League by owning an IPL team or through other means.

 

A Bench comprising Justices TS Thakur and FMI Kalifulla passed an order to this effect on a plea by former BCCI president IS Bindra that this rule put in place in 2008 had given rise to “greed” and a whole lot of conflicts of interest.

Appearing for Bindra, senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan contended that the problem of betting and fixing could not be addressed without striking down this provision introduced by amending BCCI rule 6.2.4 under which no BCCI official could hold commercial interest in cricket.

However, this rule was amended, when deposed BCCI president N Srinivasan was the Board’s Secretary, exempting IPL and Champions League from its purview. This enabled India Cements, headed by Srinivasan as Managing Director, to buy IPL team Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and a few other BCCI officer bearers to acquire commercial interest in IPL and Champions League Twenty20.

“Please examine the amendment to Rule 6.2.4 which is at the heart of the problem and the greed that has come into cricket, the greatest game on earth,” Dhavan pleaded.

At this, senior advocate Nalini Chidambaram, appearing for Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB) which has come to the SC on betting and fixing, told the Bench that her client had challenged the BCCI amendment in the Bombay High Court but the HC had dismissed the petition. CAB had challenged the HC ruling which was yet to be listed for hearing in the SC. The Bench then passed an order directing the court officials to list this appeal for hearing tomorrow. 

At one stage, the Bench said it had the options of giving its ruling on the amendment on the basis of arguments by BCCI, Srinivasan, CAB, Bindra and others or set up a panel to examine the provision and suggest solutions. It asked all the parties to the case to come prepared tomorrow to argue on this point.

During today’s arguments, suspended IPL team Rajasthan Royals (RR) pleaded for an opportunity to be heard before further action was taken against the franchise. Appearing for RR, senior advocate Shekhar Naphade said his client was penalised merely on the basis of media reports and without any notice.