Amicus Curiae sticks to 'contentious' Lodha Reforms

Supreme Court-appointed Amicus Curiae, Gopal Subramanium, on Wednesday kept most of the recommendations made by Justice RM Lodha Committee in the draft constitution of the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI)

He, however, agreed to increase the composition of the selection committees (senior men, junior and women) from three to five members on the BCCI's recommendation.

Subramanium also suggested a change in Test Players Only clause to minimum 20 first-class matches.

The Amicus Curiae told the Apex Court that the Committee of Administrators (CoA) are to be empowered to relieve the present selection committees of their burden immediately.

"Until the elections to BCCI takes place, the Committee of Administrators may be empowered to have a consultation with the Cricket Advisory Committee, comprising of reputed former international cricketers, and constitute a Committee of Selectors in line with the above criteria. This is imminently necessary to relieve the burden on the existing Committee of Selectors. The Constitution may be amended as· indicated in item 12-15 of "Annexure A". Likewise, a Coach may also be appointed in a similar manner for the national team, it submitted that the draft Constitution may be amended as indicated in item 11 of "Annexure A"," a statement from the body said.

The report further adds that Services, Indian Universities, National Cricket Club and Cricket Club of India don't qualify for status as full members.

In his submission, Subramanium has also put aside all other objections raised by the BCCI officials over key issues like one-state-one-vote, cooling off period, nine-year tenure and other disqualification norms.

On May 11, the three-judge bench of Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, had adjourned the BCCI hearing on the implementation of Justice (Retd.) R.M Lodha-led panel reforms until July 4.

Earlier, the apex court had agreed to reconsider 'one state, one vote' mandate that quashed the voting rights of regional affiliates of the BCCI.

The top court had made the decision keeping in view the fact that cricket associates and former great players of many states have played historic roles which cannot be left out.

The reconsideration means that if the 2016 judgment is reversed, the states with multiple cricket associations such as Gujarat and Maharashtra can vote on a rotational basis.

The top court had also made it clear that until it finalises the BCCI constitution, no state association can hold elections.

As a result, the election for the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) were also put on hold until May 11, the date of next hearing.

On Thursday, acting BCCI secretary Amitabh Choudhary had declared that twelve state associations of the BCCI had informed the Supreme Court that they are ready to implement the recommendation barring four exceptions.

The 12 state associations that have sent the undertaking are Andhra, Assam, Goa, Jharkhand, Kerala, Mumbai, Rajasthan, Railways, Tripura, Universities, Uttar Pradesh, Vidarbha, Association of Indian Universities.

These associations are finding it difficult to implement four reforms i.e one state, one vote, the three-year cooling-off period after a term, the constitution of the apex council and distribution of power and duties between elected council and BCCI officials.

In a landmark judgment on July 18, 2016, the top court had accepted major recommendations of Justice (Retd.) R.M. Lodha-led panel on structural reforms in the BCCI-- including one state, one vote, 'one member, one post' and fixing a 70-year age-cap on those occupying BCCI posts.