Updated: January 23, 2015 10:20 IST
Justice Mudgal had long campaigned for the BCCI to be brought under the ambit of Right To Information
Justice Mukul Mudgal was “mighty pleased” with the Supreme Court taking
steps to cleanse sports administration in the country by declaring that
the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has a public profile
and not private.
“To me,” said Justice Mudgal, “the judgment will definitely have
far-reaching effect. More importantly, it will change the public
character profile of the BCCI. It is a landmark judgment that advances
the public accountability in all the sports bodies of the country. The
conflict of interest issue arises in all walks of life. With this
judgment, it has expanded to BCCI too. In the process, all sports bodies
will improve.”
Justice Mudgal, who headed the panel that investigated into the
spot-fixing scandals of the last edition of the IPL, had long campaigned
for the BCCI to be brought under the ambit of Right To Information
(RTI). He asked, “Do we participate in the World Cup as India or not? If
BCCI calls itself a private body, then we should participate as BCCI XI
and not India.”
As Justice Mudgal noted, the BCCI would have to be more accountable now.
“It will become more transparent. The BCCI must realise that cricket
belongs to the whole country. BCCI is there only to adminster the game,
conduct it well. I must say that cricket is still the best administered
game in the country and I hope the team does well at the forthcoming
World Cup.”
Supreme Court on BCCI Elections
Rules and regulations
The BCCI shall hold within six weeks from the date of this order in accordance with the prevalent rules and regulations
Commercial interest in BCCI events
The polls will be subject to the condition that no one who has any commercial interest in the BCCI events (including Mr. N. Srinivasan) shall be eligible for contesting the elections for any post whatsoever
Disqualification
We make it clear that the
disqualification for contesting elections applicable to those holding
any commercial interest in BCCI events shall hold good and continue till
such time the person concerned holds such commercial interest or till
the Committee awards suitable punishment to those liable for the same;
whichever is later
