Mumbai’s cricket club faces tough questions from Supreme Court

The prestigious Cricket Club of India (CCI) of Mumbai on Monday faced some tough questions on its resistance to structural reforms in the BCCI from the Supreme Court which said the purpose was to clean the system and make the Board more transparent, objective and accountable.

The CCI, which played a crucial role in BCCI’s formation and owns the Brabourne Stadium -- India’s first permanent sporting venue, was opposing Justice R M Lodha Committee recommendation for ‘one-state, one-association’, saying it will alter and dilute its various rights including right to vote and also affect its status as full member which it enjoyed since the inception of BCCI. The contention of CCI, which came into existence in 1933, got the support of Sharad Pawar-headed Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), but a bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur was not convinced that Lodha committee’s recommendation would violate the fundamental right guaranteed under Article 19(1)(c) which gives the right to form association. “If Lodha Committee recommendation is accepted, it is not violating your rights under 19 (1)(c). Also keep in mind, what is the purpose of the guidelines recommended by the Committee. The purpose is to clean the system, to make BCCI more transparent, open, objective and to make it more accountable and more responsive and representative.