Supreme Court questions BCCI on delay in implementation of Lodha reforms

The BCCI has once again drawn flak from the Supreme Court for not implementing the Lodha reforms as per the apex court's ruling. The court this time issued a notice to the trio of CK Khanna, the acting President of BCCI, secretary Amitabh Chaudhary, and treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry to explain the reasons for the delay in the implementation of the reforms.

"We will send in our respective replies to the apex court, telling them why exactly there has been a delay," a BCCI official told Cricketnext on conditions of anonymity.

In the recent status report, the CoA has requested the apex court handed the governance, management and administration" of the BCCI to them while suggesting the inception of a professional group to run the board.

"...it is only fair that the current office-bearers be treated in the same manner because a further period of six months have elapsed since the said office-bearers submitted their undertakings and reforms mandated by Hon'ble Court have still not been implemented.

The Supreme Court appointed CoA also lashed out at the BCCI for not letting CEO Rahul Johri attend the Special General Meeting (SPG) on July 26 as opposed to the court's order dated July 24th. Further, the CoA also accused the BCCI of using the apex court's etc term to their advantage and suggesting reforms that go against the fundamental core of reforms suggested by the Supreme Court.

“First, the CEO of BCCI as well as the administrative staff including the legal team was asked to leave the meeting on the basis that they are not office bearers. Secondly, the totally neutral expression ‘etc’ was treated as an excuse to bring in a series of issues aimed at unravelling the fundamental core of the reforms mandated by this Hon’ble Court including disqualification of office bearers, Constitution of apex Council, clear demarcation of functions, powers, duties and obligations between professional management and Apex Council, etc,” the report stated.

“It appears that the intention was also to ensure that the Committee of Administrators would not receive a first-hand account of the proceedings during the SGM and hence the CEO of BCCI and other administrative staff including the legal team were asked to leave the meeting,” the report said.

“The CEO was asked to leave despite clear directions from the CoA to the effect that the CEO shall be entitled to attend every SGM and other meetings of the BCCI. The office bearers of the BCCI, instead of reprimanding the constituent members who were suggesting that BCCI officials including the CEO leave the meeting, did absolutely nothing.”