Supreme Court directs BCCI chief executive to take charge
The Supreme Court has directed that BCCI chief executive Rahul Johri will be the caretaker head of the board until the committee of administrators is appointed by the court, which is likely at the next hearing on January 24. The Supreme Court's latest directive is a setback for the senior office-bearers in the BCCI, who had received a reprieve last week after a three-judge bench issued a clarification stating that an administrator can serve nine years each at the BCCI and state association separately.
On January 2, the Supreme Court had removed Anurag Thakur and Ajay Shirke as BCCI president and secretary and had said that the committee of administrators would supervise and control the board until fresh elections were conducted once the board's constitution was amended in line with the Lodha Committee recommendations. In the interim, the court had also said that the senior-most vice-president would serve as the board president while the joint secretary would function as the interim secretary.
Accordingly CK Khanna, vice-president from the central zone, would be eligible to take over based on seniority. Khanna has been a vice-president for the last two years in addition to a term between 2001 and 2003. Also, Amitabh Choudhary, who was the joint secretary, would take over Shirke's seat.
The Hindu reported that Choudhary and BCCI treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry arrived at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai last week to resume charge after the court issued the clarification concerning the tenure cap. Khanna, too, told the media that he had received a letter from the BCCI acknowledging he was the senior-most vice-president, and entertained his chances of being the interim president.
However, in an interim order issued on January 20, the court put Johri in charge. "We have been apprised that presently the CEO is functioning and looking after the working of the BCCI and he shall continue to do so till we nominate the Committee, under whose supervision he shall work," the interim order said.
Nonetheless, the eligible office-bearers could continue subject to an undertaking by them that they will comply with the Supreme Court's
judgement of July 18 last year, in which court said the BCCI had to implement all the approved recommendations of the Lodha Committee. In its order on January 2, the Supreme Court had said that the office-bearers could then continue in their roles, but the committee of administrators would be the main supervisory body.
In the order on January 20, the three-judge bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra, DY Chandrachud and AM Khanwilkar said that it had received "suggestions" from the amicus curiae Gopal Subramanium and senior legal counsel Anil Divan for the committee. "The said suggestions were filed in two sealed covers before the Court, one containing the names and the other the methodology adopted by it," Friday's order said. "Having heard learned counsel for the parties, we think it appropriate that the documents in the sealed covers which have been opened in the Court should be sealed and, after due deliberation, certain number of members shall be chosen, who can administer the day-to-day affairs of the BCCI."
Supreme Court directs BCCI chief executive to take charge | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo