CoA reccommends Kapil, three others for steering committee

The Committee of Administrators (CoA) has suggested the names of former India captain Kapil Dev, former Test opener Anshuman Gaekwad and wicket-keeper Bharath Reddy and former Home Secretary G.K. Pillai for the four-member steering committee that will help in the formation of Players' Association as per the reforms recommended by the Justice R.M. Lodha Committee.

"The Committee of Administrators is of the considered opinion that a separate committee of three persons headed by a former judge of this Hon'ble Court, a retired Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General and such other person with appropriate experience in investigating such matters be appointed to examine the due diligence reports in detail with the assistance of the audit firms that have prepared the same.

"Commission a forensic audit in respect of those state/ member associations where the due diligence reports indicate instances of misfeasance and/or malfeasance and initiate appropriate action against the individuals identified as responsible for the same. The said committee may be assisted by a retired Accountant General from the relevant states identified by the Committee," the CoA said in its report to the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

"It is respectfully submitted that this honourable court may consider the appointment of the following persons as members of the re-constituted Steering Committee, along with G.K. Pillai -- Anshuman Gaikwad, Kapil Dev; and Bharat Reddy."

The CoA also urged the apex court to fill the vacancy which arose after one its members Ramachandra Guha resigned from the body.

"One of the members of the Committee of Administrators, Ramachandra Guha, has communicated his decision to resign for reasons publicly disclosed by him. Another member, Mr. Vikram Limaye, has filed an application seeking discharge for the reasons stated therein. Accordingly, there is a need to fill the said vacancies on the Committee of Administrators," the report said.

The Supreme Court appointed panel also urged that the new constitution of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI ) should come into force before September, when the annual general meeting and elections of the country's top cricket body are due to be held.

"Under the existing BCCI constitution, election for the office bearers of BCCI are held during the AGM after every three years. The Committee of Administrators has been informed that the AGM of BCCI is normally held every year in the month of September and that elections for the office bearers of the BCCI are due to be conducted in the forthcoming AGM to be held in September 2017. In the circumstances, there is a need to ensure that the new BCCI constitution is formally adopted well prior to September 2017 so that the upcoming elections can be held in accordance with the New BCCI Constitution in the AGM to be held on or before September 30, 2017," the CoA said.

" The Committee of Administrators requests the Hon'ble Court to: Issue appropriate directions (including article 142 of the Constitution of India) to empower the CoA to finalise the text of the new BCCI constitution, direct the appointment of an Ombudsman for BCCI forthwith and direct that such Ombudsman be re-appointed at the AGM to be held in September 2017 and issue appropriate directions re-constituting the steering committee for establishing the Cricket Players' Association," the report added.

--IANS

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