Politicians can take part in Board of Control for Cricket in India affairs: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Thursday said that it was not interfering in the autonomy of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) but only wanted that its activities promoted the development of the game in the country.

Making it clear that it was not against politicians taking part in the affairs of the BCCI, the court wanted to know if the country's apex cricketing body has asked its auditors to conduct the performance audit of the funds flowing from it to the state cricketing associations. (Also read: SC wraps up hearing on passing directions for BCCI reforms)

The court, however, reserved its verdict on the BCCI and its state affiliates red flagging some of the recommendations of the Justice Lodha Committee. They are particularly aggrieved by the recommendations advocating a policy of one state one vote, ceiling on the tenure of the office-bearers and presence of a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) nominee on the BCCI Board.

"We are not reviewing any decision of the BCCI. Say if they are selecting a team whether they should have a fast bowler or a spinner. We are not going to step in there," said the apex court bench comprising Chief Justice T.S. Thakur and Justice Fakkir Mohamed Ibrahim Kalifulla.

In its reply to the apex court's observation, the BCCI contended that it could not be directed about the way it should go about its functioning.

The bench was told that if it was open to the court to go into the BCCI's existence, constitution, membership and qualification of membership, then it should apply to the other 64 national sports bodies in the country as well.

"Politicians could always be there in their individual capacity," the bench said as senior counsel KK Venugopal appearing for the BCCI told the court, "whether one is a bureaucrat or a politician, so long he is elected according to rules, there can be no bar."

The senior counsel said that the country's apex cricketing organisation needed the best people with vast experience to manage its affairs. However, the court had a dig at the BCCI for "now" asking its state affiliates to furnish the proper utilisation certificate of the funds given to them.