Lodha Panel's Top 10 Commandments to BCCI: One State One Association, Come Under RTI

The Justice RM Lodha panel suggested some important recommendations in reforming the structure of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. (Highlights)

There were four major points in the RM Lodha panel which are the most important. The main suggestion was One State, One association. The other important suggestions included setting a criteria for office bearers, to legalize betting and the BCCI coming under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. It also gave a clean chit to Sundar Raman in the 2013 IPL scandal. Commenting on the recommendations, Justice Lodha remarked, "We had to ensure autonomy of BCCI was not affected. Ailments needed cure, but needed to ensure good bacteria in the body wasn't lost." (Read The Full Lodha Committee Report Here)

It is important to note that these are suggestions by the panel and they are not legally binding on the BCCI.

1) The key recommendation of the Lodha Panel was One Association of each state will be a full member and will have the right to vote. It also recommended the relegation of Railways, Services and Universities as Associate members

2) The Lodha panel recommended separate governing bodies for the IPL and BCCI. It also proposed limited autonomy for IPL Governing Council.

3) The panel suggested eligibility criterias for BCCI office bearers. They stated that they must not be a minister or government servant and they must have not held office in the BCCI for a period of nine years or three terms. The Lodha committee also stated that no BCCI office-bearer can have more than two consecutive terms.

4) The most important development was Sundar Raman getting a clean chit from the panel. In November 2015, Raman had resigned as Chief Operating Officer in the IPL.

5) The panel also recommended legalisation of betting with an inbuilt mechanism. In November 2013, former India player Rahul Dravid had said that he was in favour of legalising betting if it helped reduce corruption in the sport.

6) The report also proposed the constitution and establishment of a players association

7) The committee recommended a steering committee headed by former Home Secretary GK Pillai with Mohinder Amarnath, Diana Eduljee and Anil Kumble as members.

8) The panel stated that an Ethics Officer will decide on conflict of interest. When Shashank Manohar took over as the president of the BCCI in October, he stated in his first press conference that the Board would appoint an Ombudsman to oversee conflict of interest issues.

9) The panel suggested that the BCCI should come under the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. In the past, it was argued that bringing the BCCI under the ambit of the RTI Act was not feasible as the Indian Board was an autonomous body registered under the Societies Act

10) According to the panel, cricketing matters of the BCCI should be handled by former players while non-cricketing matters would be handled by CEO along with six assistant managers and two committees.

-With Inputs from Rica Roy and Agencies-