Lodha tells ousted BCCI officials they can’t return

Committee sends out clarification regarding matters of state association elections and nominations

Lodha Committee on Thursday sent out new clarifications regarding ousted Board of Control for Cricket in Indian (BCCI) officials, saying they are not allowed to associate themselves with cricket administration.

"In keeping with the spirit of the honourable Supreme Court's judgment, a disqualified office bearer is no longer to be associated with cricket administration,” said the Lodha Committee as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. “He/she is disqualified from being a representative or nominee of the member association or the BCCI and cannot discharge any other role in or on behalf of the association or the BCCI. He/she cannot function within the association in any patron or advisory capacity not be a member of a committee or council.”

The clarification also shed light on the issue of elections of state associations.

"While there is no bar to the holding of elections [subject to the orders of any court], if any election is held which is inconsistent with the committee's report and the judgment of the Supreme Court, then the same will be treated as void and with no legal sanctity,” they said. “This would also necessarily imply that such an election is supervised by an election officer as prescribed under the recommendations."

Among other clarifications, Lodha committee also cleared the air about the maximum time limit of bearing offices in the BCCI.

"This is to avoid any potential abuse," the committee said. "For example, if there were no such bar, an office bearer could resign after two years and nine months, and then claim eligibility to stand at the next election three months later on the ground that a new term would commence."

Meanwhile, everyone related to any state association or the BCCI will be considered an office bearer and not only the higher-ranked members. Everyone would be considered disqualified after they have served nine years at the positions.

"For example, in an association where the constitution refers to the assistant treasurer as an office bearer, if a person has occupied that post for three years and also been secretary for six years, he stands disqualified," the clarification said.