Court’s friend wants most Lodha reforms in BCCI constitution

New Delhi, May 16 

In what could be termed as a blow to senior BCCI officials, amicus curiae Gopal Subramanium has kept most of the recommendations made by the Justice RM Lodha Committee in the draft constitution of the Indian cricket board. Except for suggesting that the national selection panel be reverted to a five-member committee, the amicus curie retained all other major Lodha recommendations, namely one state-one vote, maximum tenure of 18 years (9 plus 9), cooling off after every three years, age cap of 70 years, amd allocation of duties between elected office-bearers and paid employees (secretary and CEO).

On the ‘one-state one-vote’ recommendation, the amicus curie suggested the Railways be considered as a voting member among the institutional units for their contribution in promoting women's cricket. However, he suggested, the voter should be a former player, not a Railways official. Services, Universities, National Cricket Club (NCC) and Cricket Club of India (CCI) will not get back their voting rights.

Subramanium also made it clear that any member can be a BCCI office-bearer for a cumulative period of nine years, and for a similar duration in state association with a three-year cooling-off period after every term. “In so far the cooling-off period is concerned, it is necessary to bear in mind that the entire thrust of Justice Lodha Committee report was against self perpetuation,” Subramanium wrote in his report. — PTI