The Supreme Court on Monday indicated that it would open on January 17 the sealed cover containing the results of the Rajasthan Cricket Association elections in which the former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi is the main contestant for the president post.
A bench of Justices Anil R. Dave and M.Y. Eqbal also agreed to hear on that day an application filed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) challenging the December 19, 2013, elections in which Mr. Modi was allowed to contest and to prevent Mr. Modi from being declared as the winner. It was the contention of BCCI that Mr. Modi ought not to have been allowed to contest the election as he had been disqualified by the Board for life from being associated with any cricket association.
The bench, however, made it clear to the counsel that the issue raised by the Board would arise “only if Mr. Modi wins the election and if it happens then it will hear the plea of BCCI before declaring the results.” When the Board insisted that its plea should be heard before the envelope was opened, the Bench observed “is he (Mr. Modi) more powerful that he will certainly be elected." It said that the sealed envelope containing results of election would be opened on January 17 and all arguments would be heard only on that day.
The BCCI has challenged the Rajasthan Sports Act, 2005 allowing Mr. Modi to contest the RCA presidential election despite being banned for life by the Board. On November 20, 2013, the court had appointed retired judge N. M. Kasliwal as a principal observer to oversee the elections and said the envelope would be opened on January 6.
The BCCI said “any association of Mr. Lalit Modi with RCA will affect the image of BCCI.” It pointed out that the nomination of Mr. Modi was incorrect as the RCA rejected BCCI objections to the candidature of Mr. Modi. Former BCCI treasurer Kishore Rungta had challenged the Rajasthan Sports Act, which enabled Mr. Modi to contest elections to the RCA on December 19, 2013.