SC allows Centre, state bodies to suggest names for BCCI

The Supreme Court today allowed the Centre and state cricket associations to suggest names for appointment in the committee of administrators to run BCCI while making it clear no one over the age of 70 years would be considered.
The apex court considered the submissions of Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Centre, and senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing state associations, that they be also allowed to suggest names for the committee of administrators to run the BCCI.
The bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra said, "At this juncture, Mukul Rohatgi, Attorney General for India has submitted that the Central Government may be permitted to suggest certain names so that a Committee having a holistic approach can be constituted.

"Having heard Rohatgi, Attorney General, and Sibal, senior counsel for some of the state Associations, we permit them to suggest names for Committee of Administrators for the BCCI in a sealed cover."
The bench, also comprising justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, made clear that "the names that will be suggested should be in consonance with the principal judgment and the subsequent orders passed thereafter.
"If any one suffers from any kind of disqualification, that shall not be suggested to and considered by this court."

The court, which had initially sought names from amicus curiae, Anil Divan and Gopal Subramaniam, for appointing the administrators, deferred the decision to announce the names of administrators till January 30.

The bench, meanwhile, allowed BCCI to shortlist three names from among the existing office bearers who are not disqualified, by following due procedure to represent the Board in the ICC executive meeting to be held from February 2.
"We permit (Arvind) Datar (counsel for BCCI) to give three names in a sealed cover after following the due process and, needless to say, the names that will be given should not be disqualified under the principal judgement or any of the orders of this court," the court said.
The names to be considered for the post of administrators and representing BCCI in the ICC meet respectively, have to be submitted in sealed covers in the court by January 27, it said.

The court also considered the arguments of Rohatgi that the Centre, which was "mulling" the idea of coming out with a legislation, be allowed to suggest names.