Can government take over cricketing activities by enacting law, asks SC

Persistent efforts by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and its full members to block the implementation of some crucial recommendations of the Justice R M Lodha committee on Wednesday provoked the Supreme Court to observe that public functions relating to cricket can be taken over by the government with the enactment of a law in Parliament.

"Why can't the public function of the BCCI be taken up by Parliament? The question is if the activity of organising cricket matches, sending and picking up national team, can be taken up by Parliament," a Bench comprising Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justice F M I Kalifulla said.

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The remarks by the Bench came when senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Baroda Cricket Association, which is one of the three full-time members of BCCI from Gujarat, opposed the Lodha Commission recommendation of one-state, one-vote.

Sibal said there is no restriction on the state to take over activities of the game but it will require change in bylaws and mentioned Article 19(4) of the Constitution.