SC drops contempt proceedings against ex-BCCI chief Thakur

The Supreme Court on Friday dropped contempt proceedings against former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Anurag Thakur as it accepted his unqualified apology.

The bench of Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud also accepted "regrets" from Thakur who was present in the court in pursuance to the last order of the court.

The apex court had on July 7 directed Thakur to file an unconditional and unequivocal apology by July 14 and had warned of contempt proceedings if he did not comply.

Thakur earned the ire of the court for not candidly telling it that they had asked for a letter from the International Cricket Council (ICC) that the appointment of a Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) nominee on the BCCI board amounted to government interference in its affairs.

Amicus Curiae Gopal Subramaniam on Friday told the bench that since Thakur has expressed an unconditional apology, it should be accepted as benefit of doubt should go to him.

Meanwhile, the top court accepted the resignations of historian Ramachandran Guha and Vikram Limaye from the Committee of Administrators (CoA) that is overseeing the implementation of Lodha committee recommendation for ushering organisational reforms bin the apex cricketing body of India.

Guha has resigned from the CoA for personal reasons, while Limaye had sought to be relieved from the affairs of the cricket following his appointment as Managing Director and CEO of the National Stock Exchange.

One of the conditions stipulated in his appointment as CEO of NSE was that he would terminate his association with CoA.

Subramaniam gave names of the people who could be appointed in place of Guha and Limaye. The court sought the views and suggestions of senior counsel Kapil Sibal and Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on the names suggested by Subramaniam. Both were asked to give their own list but restricted it to four names.

Besides this, the court issued notice to former BCCI President N. Srinivasan and former Secretary Niranjan Shah on the plea that after they can't be the office bearers of the apex cricketing body then can they participate in the affairs of BCCI as a nominee of a State body.

An apprehension was expressed that they may participate in the meeting of the Special General Body slated for July 26.

The issue of their participation in the affairs of BCCI was raised by Subramaniam and senior counsels Parag Tripathi appearing for CoA headed by former CAG Vinod Rai.

--IANS

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