NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has questioned how former office-bearers N Srinivasan and Niranjan Shah attended the May 7 and June 26 special general meetings of the BCCI. Both had been disqualified by the court last year for being over 70 and having completed nine years in cricket administration.
Issuing notices to them, the three-member bench asked them to reply on July 24.
“How can a person disqualified by virtue of apex court order be nominated as the nominee of state cricket associations and attend the meeting of BCCI,” the bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra said. Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud are the other members of the bench.
Former BCCI president Srinivasan and secretary Shah have been accused by the committee of administrators (CoA) of stalling a motion against change at the June 26 meeting. Both maintain they can attend meetings as nominees of state bodies because the previous order doesn’t forbid disqualified office-bearers from doing that.
The bench was given a CD to showcase that 30 per cent of the time in the SGM was consumed by Srinivasan and Shah. The CoA’s counsel said disqualified members cannot attend meetings as nominees of state associations. Appearing for Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, Kapil Sibal accepted the court’s notice on behalf of Srinivasan and said the veteran administrator can become a nominee of an association by virtue of being its member.
CoA hearing on July 24: Of the fourth status report submitted by the CoA, which contains details of how the state units have remained defiant against following its instructions, the court said the matter would be heard on July 24. The court said the plea of Cricket Association of Bihar seeking contempt proceedings against Choudhary and others for violating its order will be covered in that hearing.
Hope for Railways: Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, appearing for Railways and Services, said despite being founder members, their voting rights are being taken away.
There was a ray of hope for him, as the bench said, “If we look into history, we cannot deny the contribution made by railways to cricket. If any wrong has been done, then it can be corrected.”
Review plea on September 5: The court said it will hear arguments on reviewing a few parts of last year’s order on September 5, along with the pleas of various state associations. The pleas range from reviewing certain points to releasing funds which has been stopped by a court order last year.
Relief for Thakur: The bench gave relief to former BCCI president Anurag Thakur by accepting his “unconditional” and “unequivocal” apology and dropped contempt and criminal proceedings against him for perjury.