SC agrees to hear BCCI official’s plea

‘Office-bearers not allowed to work’

The Supreme Court on Monday allowed a petition by Amitabh Chaudhary, BCCI joint secretary, alleging that the court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) is not permitting office-bearers to perform their duties.

Justice Dipak Misra, who heads the Bench hearing the BCCI case, agreed to hear the petition on an early date after consulting his colleagues on the Bench, Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud.

In his application, Mr. Chaudhary said the court had made it clear that the CoA would supervise the implementation of reforms, and the senior-most vice-president would perform the duties of president and the joint secretary that of secretary of the BCCI.

Mr. Chaudhary alleged that the CoA had now authorised the chief executive officer, Rahul Johri, to deal with legal matters and the cases filed by and against the cricket body.

However, the BCCI constitution provides that such powers would be exercised by its secretary, the plea said adding that several activities, including the junior team selection, were stuck as the office-bearers were not allowed to function.

Mr. Chaudhary said the four members of the CoA, headed by former CAG Vinod Rai, were persons of proven credentials, but they were not following the court directions.

The Supreme Court appointed the four-member CoA to run the affairs of the BCCI and implement court-approved recommendations of the Justice R.M. Lodha panel reforms.