Centre Asks Supreme Court To Give Back Railways, Services Their Voting Rights

In a desperate attempt to see the Services Sports Board and Railways Sports Board getting back their voting rights in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Centre has moved to the Supreme Court. It is also looking to convince the apex court of allowing the government officials to become members in the cricket bodies.

The Supreme Court, in its judgement on July 18, 2016, has stated that no minister or government servant can be elected to the cricket board. The court also accepted the Lodha Panel’s recommendations of ‘one state one vote’ which reduced the role of five full members including the Railways and the Services to associate members. The other three bodies which were reduced from full membership of the BCCI to the status of Associate Members were Association of Indian Universities, National Cricket Club (Kolkata) and Cricket Club of India (Bombay).

Meanwhile, the Centre’s petition states that, according to the court’s order, both the Services and Railways boards can have no government officials on their panels despite being associated with the cricket board since they were established.  The Centre now wants the Supreme Court to modify the Lodha Panel reforms that has barred the two bodies from practicing their voting rights and also allow government officials to become member of the two governing bodies.

Last week, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, who is appearing on behalf of Railway Sports Promotion Board, Services Sports Control Board and All India Universities, had asked for the recall of the Supreme Court’s orders.

“How can three full members – Universities, Railways and Services — be relegated to associate members?” he asked.

“The three constituents have not been heard before. The order of 18th July should be recalled,” the attorney general had added.

Meanwhile, the Centre’s lawyer wanted the Supreme Court to hear the petition on Tuesday along with other BCCI issues and the apex court, which is set to announce on Tuesday the names of the administrators who will oversee the operations of the BCCI, has agreed to the requests.