BCCI to Come up With New Formula to Keep Lodha Committee at Bay - 10 Developments

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday decided to counter the Lodha committee recommendations on bringing changes in the Board's governance. In a Special General Meeting in Mumbai, the 30-member BCCI was in no mood to give into the several reforms suggested by the Supreme Court-appointed committee.

The BCCI, according to sources, is likely to suggest that the one-state-one-vote formula should not be implemented on Maharashtra and Gujarat. Both Maharashtra and Gujarat have more than one vote in the BCCI.

The Board is also going to oppose the three-member selection panel that has been suggested by the Lodha committee. The BCCI has already named a fresh five-member junior and senior selection panels, respectively, saying that five members are mandatory to cover the length and breadth of the country.

Among other things, the Board will also oppose the age and tenure caps.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday slammed the Board of Control for Cricket in India for failing to comply with stipulated reforms following corruption scandals, saying its officials were "behaving like lords".

The Supreme Court instructed the BCCI to "fall in line" with retired judge Justice RM Lodha and his committee's proposals for sweeping changes to the cash-rich organisation's structure and way of working.

The BCCI has already missed its first deadline (September 30) to implement the Memorandum of Association and Rules that was proposed by the Lodha Committee.

Ten developments of the BCCI versus Lodha committee case:

* On July 14, 2016, a two-judge Supreme Court bench, that included the Chief Justice of India TS Thakur, empowered the Lodha panel to implement a series of reforms in BCCI's style of governance.

* Lodha panel recommended major reforms that included age caps, tenure restrictions, one-man-one-post, one state-one-vote, among others. The reforms would apply to the Board as well as state units.

* Lodha panel also proposed changes in the way the BCCI and state units were structured. It also suggested constitutional changes in BCCI and its affiliated units

* Lodha panel set the BCCI two deadlines - September 30 to make constitutional changes and December 15 for the Board to form a nine-member Apex committee that will replace the working committee

* The BCCI did not accept all the proposals made by the Lodha panel. The BCCI appointed former Supreme Court judge Justice Markandey Katju to review the Lodha panel recommendations and advise on whether to implement them.

* Katju called the Lodha panel "unconstitutional and illegal." The BCCI promptly filed a review petition in the Supreme Court on July 18

* Defying the Lodha deadlines, the BCCI also announced the date of the AGM. Katju said there was nothing wrong in the BCCI staging its AGM as it was governed by the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975 and only the Registrar could take action against the BCCI, not a court-appointed committee.

* In August, BCCI secretary met the Lodha panel saying the AGM will conduct "routine" business but last week, the Board advertised inviting applications for the post of selectors. It's agenda also says that it will elect the new working committee and even an ombudsman.

* On August 31, the Lodha panel clearly told the BCCI that any business or matter related to 2016-17 should be made only after the Board implements the reforms. The BCCI, defying the Lodha committee, elects several committees, including the senior and junior selection committees. The Lodha panel files its status report to the Supreme Court on September 28. The top court wants BCCI to reply by October 6.

* On October 1, a BCCI Special General Meeting decided to counter the Lodha committee reforms with special emphasis on the one-state-one-vote proposal and the number of members on a selection committee.

(With inputs from Rica Roy)