Lodha panel won't entertain plea unless referred by the SC

A counsel appearing for Lodha committee sought clarification from the Supreme Court on whether they should entertain grievances in “respect of certain matters”. To this, a bench headed by the chief justice Dipak Mishra made it clear that committee should not entertain any representation unless it is referred by the Supreme Court of India.

Lodha committee recommended many reforms

The Lodha committee recommended many structural reforms in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The court has made it clear to the Lodha committee that they are not supposed to entertain anyone unless the apex court refers.

“In our considered opinion and keeping in view the order dated January 2, Justice Lodha Committee may not entertain any further representation unless it is referred by this court,” the bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud, said as quoted by The Times of India.

The court earlier this year had asked a Committee of Administrators (CoA) to supervise over the functioning of BCCI through its CEO.

“The role of the Justice RM Lodha committee shall hereafter be confined to overall policy and direction on such matters as may be referred by this court,” the court further said.

The SC had also declared the names which were going to comprise the CoA. The CoA was headed by the former CAG Vinod Rai, and its job was to run the affairs of the cash-rich board. The committee was entrusted with the duty of implementing the Lodha reforms in the BCCI.

Supreme Court accepted Lodha committee’s  reforms

The Justice Mukul Mudgal committee had called for reforms in the BCCI in the wake of 2013 IPL betting and spot-fixing charges. Lodha panel was formed in 2015 in the wake of the Mudgal committee’s report. The panel gave many recommendations to reform the Indian cricket board.

The court had accepted most of the recommendations of the Lodha panel on July 18. It had approved the panel’s recommendations such as one- state, one-vote, one member-one post and fixing an age-cap of 70 years on those occupying BCCI posts.