Supreme Court Asks BCCI, Why Do You Need Political Clout?
The Supreme Court is hearing the BCCI's objections to the recommendations made by the Justice RM Lodha panel on reforms needed in the cricket Board's administration
Highlights
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Supreme Court not amused with politicians in BCCI.
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Top Court hearing Lodha panel’s proposals on BCCI restructuring.
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SC has already objected to BCCI’s method of fund allocation.
After slamming it for inappropriate method of allocating funds to its members, the Supreme Court on Wednesday once again came hard on the Board of Control for Cricket in India for having several politicians among its bigwigs. (Shift IPL 2016 Matches Out of Maharashtra After April 30: Bombay High Court)
The top court is hearing the BCCI's objections to the proposals made by the Justice RM Lodha panel on structural changes needed for a better and transparent cricket Board.  (IPL: Bombay High Court Tells BCCI to Shift Matches From Drought-Hit Maharashtra)
BCCI and its units have several politicians as their top officials and the Supreme Court is clearly not amused. The current Board secretary Anurag Thakur is a BJP MP while the chairman of the Indian Premier League, Rajeev Shukla, is a senior and influential Congress member.
The president of the Mumbai Cricket Association Sharad Pawar is a political heavyweight. He has been a former BCCI president as well as the head of the International Cricket Council. BJP president Amit Shah is the president of Gujarat Cricket Association.
The Supreme Court bench on Wednesday asked: "Can we have politicians only as advisors in Indian cricket? Shouldn't the system be good enough to work without political clout?" (Maharashtra Stand to Lose Rs 100 Cr if IPL Matches Are Shifted, Says Anurag Thakur)
Political clout has played a major role in BCCI's functioning. Presidential candidates have often knocked at the doors of top politicians to seek their blessings and votes. Arun Jaitley, former president of the Delhi and District Cricket Association, has often been seen by the media as a king-maker.
N. Srinivasan, who was keen for an extra term as BCCI president till the Supreme Court stopped him, had reportedly met a Cabinet Minister in the Modi government to garner votes. His hopes were scuppered by the Supreme Court.
On January 4, 2016, the Lodha panel made several telling recommendations to the Supreme Court. It suggested structural changes to the powerful BCCI to ensure more transparency in its operation.
The panel recommended cooling off period between successive terms for top officials, suggested ministers and government servants cannot occupy BCCI posts and wanted professionals under a chief executive officer to run the Board's day-to-day activity.