SC to open report on RCA election Jan 17 (Lead, correcting name in para 2)

The Supreme Court Monday said it will open on Jan 17 the Justice (retd) N.M.Kasliwal report on the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) elections, which were embroiled in controversy after former IPL czar Lalit Modi entered the race for the president's post.

A bench of Justice Anil R. Dave and Justice M.Y.Eqbal rpt M.Y.Eqbal said they would hear all the matters Jan 17 even as senior counsel C.A.Sundaram told the court that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) - the apex body for cricket affairs in the country - too had moved an application challenging Modi's candidature.

The court order came as it adjourned hearing on former RCA secretary Kishore Rungta's plea challenging the Rajasthan Sports Act, 2005, that was read by Modi's supporters in his favour to contest the election.

The 2005 act had taken away the individual voting rights of the members.

The RCA elections were held Dec 19, 2013, under the watch of the apex court-appointed Kasliwal.

Modi contested the election as RCA rejected the BCCI plea to keep him out of the election fray as it was contrary to BCCI rules since he was under a life ban.

The BCCI had September 2013 had imposed life ban on Modi for alleged irregularities when he headed the India Premier League from 2008 to 2010. It has contended that Modi's association with the cricketing body would affect the image of the popular sports and the apex cricketing body.