Clear way for Sourav Ganguly and Jay Shah to continue in office, Supreme Court said – BCCI can amend its constitution

The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the appeal of the Cricket Board of India (BCCI) seeking permission to amend its constitution on the mandatory cooling-off period and tenure of office-bearers. The Supreme Court has said that we are of the view that the amendment made by the BCCI in its constitution will not dilute the basic purpose of the game. This decision of the Supreme Court has brought great relief to BCCI President Sourav Ganguly and Secretary Jay Shah. Both can continue in their posts in the BCCI for the next three years.

BCCI had appealed to give exemption from cooling off period to President Sourav Ganguly and Secretary Jay Shah to extend their tenure. For this a demand was made to amend the constitution of BCCI. The Supreme Court said in its decision- The amendments proposed by the BCCI are not different from the spirit of our decision. The court accepts the appeal of BCCI.

In fact, the current BCCI rules say that after holding office for six years in the state cricket board or BCCI, a cooling-off period of three years will have to be followed before taking up another post. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court had reserved its decision on this issue. The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the BCCI why it wants a person above the age of 70 to represent it in the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The top court made the remarks during the hearing of the board's plea seeking amendments to its constitution with regard to the tenure of office bearers including its president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah. This includes doing away with the mandatory 'cooling-off' period (not holding any office for three years) between the term of office bearers of state cricket associations and BCCI.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for BCCI, had said in his arguments that both the State Cricket Board and BCCI bodies are different and their rules are also different and two consecutive terms of office bearer are too short to create leadership at the grassroots level. Earlier, a committee headed by Justice RM Lodha had recommended amendments to the BCCI which was accepted by the Supreme Court.