NEW DELHI: Any slender chance of N Srinivasan contesting the BCCI polls seemingly fizzled out on Monday. The Supreme Court took exception to his chairing the February 8 BCCI working committee meeting and its special Bench warned him against showing disrespect to the court by saying, “Make him realise the spirit of court orders.”
The apex court asked: “If he can’t contest, how can he hold the post?” Srinivasan had chaired the meeting despite the January 22 apex court judgment. “He shouldn’t have done this. This makes him vulnerable,” Justice T S Thakur observed.
Questioning Srinivasan’s advocate Kapil Sibal, the judge asked, “With people like you advising him, what was the need for him to do this? We’re not happy with what he did.”
Replying to counsel Kapil Sibal’s contention that the judgment only barred Srinivasan from contesting elections and there was no contempt of court, the court said, “When you know there is a judgment, you shouldn’t have done this. How could you ignore we found him ineligible to contest. When someone is ineligible, how can he hold a position as cricket administrator?” Justice Thakur asked.
With the Annual General Meeting on March 2, the BCCI has to look for a candidate now. Things are expected to crystalise in a day or two.