The BCCI receives a notice from the Supreme Court

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has received a notice from the Supreme Court of India for e-auctioning the broadcast rights of the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL), on Friday. It was Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy who filed a plea in the court to ensure the BCCI e-auctions the rights.

Swamy stated that the amount associated with the award of IPL media rights was to the measure of Rs 30,000 crore and should not be dealt with in a hazy manner. Swamy had filed a PIL a few weeks ago, claiming the same. The SC bench comprised by Justices Dipak Misra and AM Khanwilkar has given the board two weeks time to reply to the notice.

What the petition stated:

The petition suggested that the auction must be done in a transparent and convenient manner which is online via e-auction.

“This petition prays that the distribution of IPL Rights which is scheduled on July 17, 2017, should be done in the most transparent mode available that is via E-Auction,” the petition said.

“It is a requirement that non-discriminatory and transparent method, with the best international practices must be adopted for distribution of the valuable media rights so as to ensure the maximum revenue in the larger national interest,” the plea added.

The auction has been scheduled for 28th August 2017. The Supreme Court will hear the case six days before that on the 22nd of August.

Meanwhile, the apex court has issued another letter to the BCCI asking them for a reason behind not implementing the Lodha Panel reforms. 2 weeks of time has been allotted by the apex court to the Indian cricket board for a reply.