Why SC removed Anurag Thakur as BCCI president: 9 things to know
The verdict is finally out and the standoff between the Board of Control For Cricket In India (BCCI) and the Lodha Committee reached a crescendo on Monday, when the Supreme Court ordered the removal of Anurag Thakur from the post of president for not falling in line with the reforms recommended by the panel.
The court also removed Ajay Shirke from the post of secretary, saying the "committee of administrator will look after the affairs of BCCI".
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| BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke and president Anurag Thakur. (Photo: PTI) |
The court order follows a long-standing battle between the BCCI and the Lodha panel, which was appointed by the Supreme Court in January 2015, following reports of corruption in the Indian Premier League. The panel was formed after the Mudgal Committee, appointed to investigate the IPL scandal, submitted its report.
The Lodha panel, in January 2016, recommended a string of measures to ensure the smooth functioning of the cricket board, which the board has been unwilling to implement. The panel's report makes various reform recommendations, which include directives like age limit of 70 years for all office-bearers, appointment of an apex panel to run the BCCI administration, one-man, one-post, one-state, one-vote, and also the appointment of a CEO to handle the everyday affairs of the cricket body. The recommendations were accepted by the top court in July 2016.
Here's all that you need to know about the long-standing row:
1. The court issued a showcause notice to Thakur and Shirke on Monday, asking why they should not be tried for perjury and contempt of court.
2. Reserving the next hearing for January 19, the court said that an administrative panel will carry out the BCCI's functioning. Until then, it said, the senior-most vice-president of BCCI will act as the president and the joint secretary will work as secretary.
3. The board had been given time until December 3, 2016, to implement the suggestions made by the Lodha panel. The BCCI, however, remained firm in its stance.
4. The bench headed by Justice TS Thakur requested senior advocates Fali S Nariman and Gopal Subramanian to suggest names of those who can be appointed as members of the administrative committee.
5. Stating the panel's recommendations, the court said no person above 70 years of age, unsound mind, ministers and government servants, convicted persons shall be eligible to hold any position in cricket bodies. It also asked all office-bearers to abide by the panel's recommendations.
6. Last November, the Lodha panel recommended the sacking of all BCCI office-bearers for non-compliance and suggested the appointment of former home secretary GK Pillai as an observer in the board with the power to appoint an auditor, and guide the BCCI administration, particularly on the award of contracts and transparency.
7. Earlier, the top court had ordered a restriction on the body's spending and distribution of funds if it did not implement the panel's recommendations.
8. In July 2015, the Lodha panel suspended IPL franchisees Chennai SuperKings and Rajasthan Royals from the league for two years.
9. In April 2015, the Lodha panel sent a list of over 80 questions to the BCCI, asking it to explain cricket operations in the country. Split into eight sections, the questions covered a wide set of topics, including its election process.
The protracted battle it seems will continue forever, unless the next hearing seals the deal.