ProMASS: Jan 02, 2017: The Supreme Court today removed Anurag Thakur from the post of BCCI President for not complying with its orders on implementing the Lodha Committee recommendations. A bench, headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur, also issued notice to Mr Thakur seeking an explanation why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him. BCCI Secretary Ajay Shirke was also removed from his post.
The court said, all office bearers of BCCI and state associations who refuse to abide by recommendations of Lodha panel to bring transparency and accountability in the cricket body shall demit office forthwith. The court said, no one above 70 years, unsound mind, ministers, government servants, convicted persons and those holding post for cumulative term of 9 years can be an office bearer.
The apex court said, a committee of administrators will look after the affairs of BCCI. It asked senior advocates Fali Nariman and Gopal Subramaniam to assist in nominating persons for the committee. It said, the advocates will complete the task in two weeks and the matter will be taken up on the 19th of this month. The court also said, till the new administrators take over the working of BCCI, the senior most Vice President of the board will act as the President and the present Joint Secretary will assume the work as Secretary.
Welcoming the decision, Justice RM Lodha said, it is the victory for the sport. He said, administrators come and go but the decision is for the benefit of the game. The Lodha Committee, appointed by the apex court after a betting scandal in the Indian Premier League, had recommended sweeping changes in the way the board is run. It had, later, said that BCCI is refusing to implement the recommendations. The board had pleaded that it cannot implement all the reforms, which include large-scale structural and management changes.
