SC Appoints Vinod Rai, Ram Guha As Part Of Four-Member Panel For BCCI Administration

The Supreme Court on 30 January, appointed a four-member panel to look after the administration of the BCCI. The head of this panel is the former Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Vinod Rai, while eminent historian Ramachandra Guha, IDFC official Vikram Limaye, and former captain of Indian women's cricket team Diana Edulji were made the members of the panel. The Apex Court rejected the Centre's suggestion to name the sports secretary as part of the panel, while referring to its 2 January judgment that blocked government servants and ministers from holding office in the BCCI.

The Supreme Court had directed the BCCI to nominate by 27 January three members, not disqualified by its order of 2 January, one of whom would be chosen to attend the ICC meeting in Dubai in early February. Following that, the BCCI had asked to its 31 full members to revert with their three preferences.The Supreme Court removed BCCI president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke, saying they should "forthwith cease and desist from" the board's work.

The verdict clarified that as per the recommendations of the Lodha panel which has been accepted by the apex court, no person above 70 years of age, unsound mind, ministers, government servant, convicted persons along with those who have held the posts for cumulative period of nine years and those who are part of any other sports association shall be eligible to hold any position in the cricket bodies.

On 24 January, the apex court, after initially seeking names from amicus curiae, Anil Divan and Gopal Subramaniam, for appointing the administrators, postponed the decision to announce the names of administrators till 30 January.