CSK’s plea challenging suspension: BCCI asked to file counter

The Madras High Court on Thursday directed the Indian cricket board to file its response on the merits and maintainability of a petition filed by Chennai Super Kings challenging Justice Lodha Committee’s order suspending it from Indian Premier League over the 2013 betting scam.

<g data-gr-id="21">First</g> bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice T S Sivagnanam directed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to file its counter affidavit within two weeks.

The court made it clear that all parties should adhere to the schedule with regard to filing of <g data-gr-id="25">counter</g> and thereafter arguments and adjourned the matter to September 23.

In its petition, city-based Indian Cements Ltd, owner of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), has also sought a stay on the Lodha committee’s order last month suspending it.

Contending that the sanctions imposed by the committee were illegal and beyond the reference made by the apex court, the petitioner has said the panel also ought to have heard it before passing the suspension order.

MS Dhoni-led CSK and Rajasthan Royals were on July 14 suspended for two years from IPL following <g data-gr-id="20">the 2013</g> betting scam involving their top officials Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra respectively.

When the hearing resumed on the petition on Thursday, senior counsel Nalini Chidambaram, appearing for Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB), said the petitioner had made serious allegations such as non-application of mind against Justice Lodha Committee without making it a party to the petition. During the previous hearing, the court had allowed CAB, on whose plea the Supreme Court had directed probe in IPL-6 betting and <g data-gr-id="22">spot fixing</g> scandal, to implead in the case.