Cricket board of India told not to create a defiant attitude
PTI
NEW DELHI
The apex court decided to pass an order on the issue of implementation of directions of the committee headed by former CJI Lodha today (Friday) after the counsel for Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) declined to give an “unconditional undertaking by tomorrow (Friday)” that it will seek instructions to stop funds to the state bodies and abide by the panel’s recommendations.
“You must not create a defiant attitude. This is not going to lead you anywhere,” a bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur said, emphasising that transparency, fairness and objectivity were most important aspects in all decisions including disbursal of funds by BCCI.
The bench was pained at BCCI’s stance that the verdicts and directions of the apex court and the Lodha panel were contrary to statutory provisions, saying its reluctance to accept them was part of a “strategy” or “design”, after senior advocate Gopal Subramaniam, assisting as an amicus curaie, drew attention to the BCCI’s affidavit.
He also referred to constitutional provisions dealing with Supreme Court judges and criticised the board for roping in Justice (Retd) Markandey Katju who made “inappropriate remarks” against the judgement of the apex court and the deliberations of the Justice Lodha committee, to undermine the dignity of the apex court.
“Once you become judge of the Supreme Court, you become part of the institution to which there is dignity attached,” he said, asking “can a former judge, once a colleague, can speak about the judgements”, talk to media or hold press conferences.
