SC restrains Srinivasan, Niranjan Shah from attending BCCI SGM

Former cricket administrators N Srinivasan and Niranjan Shah have been asked by the Supreme Court to not take part in the forthcoming BCCI Special General Meeting (SGM) on July 26. Both Srinivasan and Shah were part of the SGM held on June 26 despite being disqualified from their position as office bearers as they had attained the age of 70.

SC had issued a notice to the duo earlier

CoA, after the last SGM, had complained about the disqualified members disrupting the BCCI meetings. The meetings were held to implement the Lodha Panel recommendations in the Board. Later, CoA had submitted a report to the Supreme Court seeking to solve the Srinivasan-Shah problem. The Supreme Court headed by Justice Dipak Misra and compromising Justices AM Khanwikar and DY Chnadrachud subsequently sent a notice to both seeking explanation of their participation in the SGM held in May and June.

“The SGM held on June 26 was manifestly disruptive. Before the meeting, a substantial consensus has been arrived at as a result of mutual deliberations between CoA and various constituents members of BCCI,” CoA’s report had stated.

“The SGM on June 26 was attended by various persons who are disqualified from being office bearers of BCCI and/or their respective state/member associations including N Srinivasan (represented TNCA) and Niranjan Shah (Saurashtra CA) amongst others. Such disqualified persons have a vested interest in stalling implementation of judgment because if the judgment is implemented, such disqualified person will have to relinquish control over their respective state associations.” it added.

SC reconsidering one-state, one-vote policy

Now the SC has barred the duo from attending the SGM to be held on Wednesday. The Supreme Court has now agreed on reconsidering the one-state, one-vote policy which has received a lot of opposition by state associations. Associations like Mumbai, Saurashtra had stood up refusing to accept this change as it would dilute the power of their association.

“One State One Vote policy is not favorable to this country,” the SC bench which is monitoring the implementation of Lodha reforms, said.

The turnaround happened on July 14 when a bench announced that the likes of Railways, Association of India Universities, National Cricket Club and Cricket Club of India to regain their full membership. Earlier, after the Lodha Panel had suggested their recommendations, Railways was set to be reduced as an associate member. It had also recommended states likes Maharashtra and Gujarat to use their voting rights on a rotational basis.

“Historically, the contribution of Railways in the development of cricket and other sports have been significant. Can Railways be relegated to associate member of BCCI? Some kind of formula has to be evolved so that no body or association which had been historically involved in the development of cricket in India are deprived of full membership. One cannot possibly equate small states with these important bodies,” the bench had said on July 14.