Lodha committee proposes sweeping reforms for BCCI

New Delhi - 'People have the right to know functions and facilities of cricket board'

The Supreme Court-appointed Lodha Committee on Monday recommended sweeping reforms and an administrative shake-up for the troubled BCCI by suggesting that ministers be barred from occupying positions, a cap put on the age and tenure of the office-bearers and legalisation of betting.
In a series of drastic recommendations, the three-member panel, headed by Justice (Retd) R M Lodha, also suggested one unit should represent only one state, while taking away the voting rights of institutional and city-based units.
The committee also suggested the restructuring of the BCCI's administrative set-up, proposing the position of a CEO to run the daily affairs of the Board accountable to a nine-member apex council.
Addressing a crowded press conference after submitting a 159-page report to the Supreme Court, which will decide whether these recommendations would be binding on the BCCI, Lodha said he held 38 meetings with Board officials, cricketers and other stakeholders.
"First thing is about the structure and the constitution. As you know, presently the BCCI has 34 members. Some of these members do not have any territory like Services, Railways etc. Some of them do not play tournaments. Some of the states have multiple members like Maharashtra has three, Gujarat has three. With the interactions we had, except few it was broadly represented to us that one state as a unit of representation in BCCI is a very fair idea," Lodha said as he gave detailed explanations for the recommendations.
Among the most sensational suggestions by the Lodha panel, which also included Justice (Retd) Ashok Bhan and Justice (Retd) RV Raveendran, was the one to legalize betting. The panel felt that the move would help curb corruption in the game and recommended that except for players and officials, people should be allowed to place bets on registered websites.
The panel also said that to ensure transparency in the BCCI's functioning, it is important to bring the body under the purview of the Right to Information Act, something that the Board has vehemently opposed in the past citing its autonomy.
"...since the BCCI performs public functions, people have the right to know the functions and facilities and other activities of the BCCI and therefore in our opinion whether RTI Act is applicable to BCCI or BCCI is amenable to RTI is sub-judice. We have recommended the legislature must seriously consider bringing BCCI within the purview of the RTI Act," Justice Lodha stated.
Putting a cap on the age and tenure of the BCCI office-bearers, the committee said that the Board members should not hold office for more than three terms. Justice Lodha said the President can have only two terms of three years each but other office bearers can have three terms. There will be a compulsory cooling off period after each term for all office-bearers.
"As regards the office bearers of BCCI - President, VP, secretary, joint secretary and treasurer, certain eligibility criteria has been fixed like, he must be an Indian, he must not be above age of 70, he must not be insolvent, he must not be a minister or a government servant and who has not held office in the BCCI for a cumulative period for nine years," Lodha said.
As part of its proposed revamp of the Board's administrative set-up, the panel said that the body's everyday affairs should be run by a CEO. The panel said there should also be a players' association to ensure that cricketers have a say in the Board's functioning.
"There should be an apex council for the BCCI comprising 9 members, of which 5 should be elected, 2 should be representatives of players association, and one woman. Day to day management of the BCCI will be conducted by the CEO," said Justice Lodha.
Lodha said the players' association will be formed by a steering committee, headed by ex-Home Secretary G K Pillai, and comprising ex-captains Mohinder Amarnath and Anil Kumble along with women's legend Diana Edulji.