Supreme Court to hear BCCI case again, decide on N. Srinivasan's return as president
Apex court will hear a petition filed by the Cricket Association of Bihar seeking an injunction on N. Srinivasan performing his duties as president of the Board.
The Supreme Court on Monday will hear a petition filed by the Cricket Association of Bihar seeking an injunction on N. Srinivasan performing his duties as the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. In the Board's Annual General Meeting on September 29 in Chennai, Srinivasan got a year's extension as BCCI president but only just. Every BCCI chief is eligible for a year's extension on completion of the regular two-year term. Srinivasan was elected unopposed after easily swinging the key South Zone votes but the Supreme Court stopped him from assuming office.
Since August, the Supreme Court has been deliberating on a PIL filed by the Bihar association that wanted the court to restrain Srinivasan from contesting the BCCI elections because his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan was charge-sheeted by the Mumbai Police for corruption during Indian Premier League matches earlier this year. However, the court allowed Srinivasan to take part in the elections but stopped him from taking charge till it gave him the green signal.
On September 30, the Supreme Court expressed its concern over the BCCI's activities, even asking why the Board lacked credibility. The BCCI's lawyers said Srinivasan will not take part in IPL-related activities and proposed the names of former BCCI vice-president Arun Jaitley and senior advocate Niloy Dutta of Assam Cricket Association to form a fresh two-member panel who could probe the allegations of corruption against Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals team owners and players 'caught' by the Delhi and Mumbai Police. The Supreme Court is expected to hear Bihar's view on this panel.
Srinivasan's return as BCCI president looks very much on the cards. The Supreme Court judges Justice A.K. Patnaik and Jagdish Singh Khehar said Srinivasan was elected "democratically" and an organization like the BCCI cannot work without a head. Bihar lawyers also said the president has to work. Monday's hearing thus assumes great significance for the BCCI strongman with several issues like the fate of foreign tours hanging in balance.