JOIN USSrini, Shah rapped for attending BCCI SGM
On a complaint made by Committee of Administrators (CoA) led by former Comptroller and Auditor General Vinod Rai, a three-judge bench presided over by Justice Dipak Misra asked, “How can a person disqualified by virtue of apex court order be nominated as nominee of state cricket associations and attend the meeting of BCCI?”
The bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, issued notices to Srinivasan and Shah. The court sought their responses on the issue and fixed the matter for consideration on July 24.
In a related development, the bench dropped contempt and perjury proceedings against former BCCI president Anurag Thakur, who was personally present in the court. The court accepted unqualified and unequivocal apology tendered by him. The proceedings were initiated against him for his attempt to seek a letter from the ICC to assert that Lodha panel's recommendation of having a CAG nominee in the BCCI would amount to governmental interference.
In its fourth status report, the CoA had contended that both Srinivasan and Shah, the disqualified office bearers of the BCCI, created the “manifestly disruptive” atmosphere at the Special General Meeting (SGM) held on June 26 by attending it as nominees of Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) and Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) respectively. It accused them of abusing their influence over state cricket associations to obstruct reform in cricket.
Disqualifed
Senior advocates Parag Tripathi and C U Singh, representing the CoA, pointed out both Srinivasan and Shah have been disqualified by virtue of the norms of being above 70 years as well as having been in office for nine years.
They sought directions to prohibit the disqualified members from attending the BCCI meetings even though senior advocate Kapil Sibal contended that they could not be barred from attending meetings. He claimed that Srinivasan had no conflict of interest.
Meanwhile, the court also considered letters sent by Vikram Limaye and Ramachandra Guha to relieve them from the Committee of Administrators. After Guha, Limaye also withdrew from the panel after being appointed as the Managing Director and CEO of the National Stock Exchange. Guha had in May resigned after writing a scathing letter to CoE over its manner of functioning.
The court asked Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, Sibal and others to give fresh names for appointment in the CoA within seven days in sealed cover. The names would be considered by the court on September 5.