IPL Spot-fixing: BCCI to move Supreme Court against Bombay High Court order - Highlights

While the BCCI Working Committee's meeting was called off for technical reasons, the IPL Governing Council has decided to move Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court order deeming IPL probe panel as illegal and unconstitutional. Here the highlights from the day.

Ratnakar Shetty spoke to members of the press. This is what he had to say:

"In the morning there was the IPL governing council meeting. Mr. Arun Jaitley explained the important points of the Bombay High Court order to the members. The members decided to file an SLP against the High Court order. Also the committee decided to relpace Sanjay Jagdale and Ajay Shirke as they were members of the Ethics Committee of the Indian Premier League. Sanjay Patel, and Ravi Sawant, the current BCCI secretary and treasurer respectively, will replace them."










Media release: BCCI has issued the following media release -

At its meeting in Delhi earlier today, the IPL Governing Council (Mr. N. Srinivasan having recused himself) considered at length, the issues arising from the Bombay High Court's order regarding the constitution of the probe commission, which was formed to investigate the complaints made by the BCCI against India Cements Limited, Jaipur IPL Cricket Private Limited, Mr. Gurunath Meiyappan and Mr Raj Kundra.

As a matter of principle, the members confirmed that it was important that the Governing Council's actions be and be seen to be both legally and ethically correct.

The Governing Council believes that the probe commission was properly constituted in accordance with the IPL Operational Rules, and has consequently decided that an appeal should be filed in the Honourable Supreme Court.

This decision having been made, Mr. N. Srinivasan rejoined the meeting and, in the light of the pending appeal to the Supreme Court, requested Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya to continue discharging his functions at the BCCI for the present.

Sanjay Patel

Hony. Secretary

BCCI

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SLP is what the BCCI will file in the Supreme Court. It means a Special Leave Petition. Several lawyers were present at the five-star hotel where the IPL Governing Council met.

What is the cricket world saying about the developments? Noted cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle has this observation to make:

if every morning the bcci asked if what they are doing is right for the fan and the game, they might look at things differently.

 

- Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 2, 2013

Jagmohan Dalmiya to continue as BCCI chief, for now.

BCCI will appeal to Supreme Court against the order of the Bombay High court which had deemed the IPL spot-fixing probe as illegal.

Technical grounds may have been the reason for the meeting to have been called off, it is currently being learnt. Some members feel that to have Srinivasan in the chair would mean flouting Bombay High Court's order.

BREAKING: The BCCI Working Committee meeting has been called off but the Board has given no reasons for the cancellation.

Meeting of the IPL Governing Council has ended. Details awaited...

The IPL Governing Council meeting began around 12:10 (IST). Although it began late, it is expected to study the Bombay High Court observation and set the tone for the developments today.

Noted members who reportedly stand against Srinivasan include vice president Niranjan Shah. Detractors said previously that they will contemplate legal action if Srinivasan attends Friday's meeting. NDTV also learnt from sources that as many as 12 members are likely to question if it's correct for Srinivasan to return as BCCI chief and discuss the legality of the IPL probe.

Srinivasan, it has been learnt, has the support of 10 state cricket associations. These include Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Mumbai and Karnataka.

BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel had previously said that Friday's meeting will be chaired by Srinivasan.

 

 

"There is no confusion. He is the president of the Board," said Patel.



Sources however said that members of the Board are divided on whether the India Cements head should be re-instated as chief of BCCI or not.

Srinivasan is expected to attend the meeting in New Delhi as president of Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA). There however are question marks on whether he will chair the meeting or will interim chief Jagmohan Dalmiya will take up that responsibility. Dalmiya was appointed chief earlier till the time the probe into allegations of IPL spot-fixing gets over. The probe may now be over but the Bombay High Court has declared it illegal and unconstitutional. The court had said rule 2.2 of the BCCI Operational Rules mandated presence of at least one member of the IPL Code of Behaviour Committee on the Commission. "Admittedly, the two learned Judges are not members on the IPL Code of Behaviour Committee," they pointed out.