Justice Lodha Commission: BCCI raises objections before Supreme Court

Expressing "difficulties" to comply with Justice RM Lodha Commission's recommendations on the reform in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the country's apex cricket body on Tuesday raised objections before the Supreme Court.

Filing a 60-page response that the top court asked for earlier through its secretary Anurag Thakur, the BCCI has claimed that other state cricket bodies have also objections to the suggestion of "one state one vote".

"Some of the state associations will have to lose their voting power under the one state, one vote suggestion," BCCI said.

Raising objection to Justice Lodha panel's suggestion that ministers and government servants should not hold any post in the apex cricket body, BCCI said "it is violative of Article 19 (1) (c) of Indian Constitution which guaranteed the right to form associations and unions."

Similarly, the cricket body also has objection to the Lodha panel's age cap clause saying this is also violative of fundamental rights. It said with age and experience, the person will render better service to the board.

With the age cap clause, the long-serving officials like Niranjan Shah and others will have to lose their positions.

In the meantime, some state associations have also moved the top court with their objections to the Lodha panel suggestions.

The apex court has given a stern message to BCCI asking it to "fall in line" with the recommendations of Justice Lodha Committee.

The court had said the recommendations are "straight, rational and understandable" and "deserve respect" and "there is no reason to disagree with the committee" which has the most "illuminated and respected members of the legal community".

Cricket Association of Bihar's secretary Aditya Verma has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking implementation of Lodha panel recommendation in BCCI. The matter will come up for hearing on March 3.