Aditya Verma, the petitioner in the Indian Premier League spot-fixing scandal, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi warning that the enactment of the sports bill could result in the government taking control of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
Verma's latest missive comes at a time when the BCCI faces the deadline for implementation of the reforms recommended by the Supreme Court-appointed Lodha panel.
The Justice Rajendra Mal Lodha has instructed the BCCI to implement the 15-step reforms, ranging from constitutional reforms to principles of awarding various contracts, including the lucrative television rights, by October 15.
"There is speculation in the media that the BCCI is intending to approach the Government of India to introduce a bill which contains provisions to get over the recommendations of the Justice Lodha Committee, eventually serving the vested interest of the Board," said Verma, in his letter to PM Modi, on Thursday.
"The officer bearers of the BCCI should appreciate that notwithstanding the far-reaching reforms to ensure transparency, the recommendations preserve the autonomy of the Board.
"The Lodha Committee has made no recommendation for government interference in BCCI's functioning. Any attempt to get the Parliament to pass a law (sports bill) will only result in government taking control of the BCCI. Hence, the move if any, to get any legislation passed to nullify the Lodha panel's recommendations will be counter productive and misconceived," Verma added.
- Report of Lodha Committee on Reforms in Cricket - Final Report, Volume 1
- Report of Lodha Committee on Reforms in Cricket - Final Report, Volume 2
