SC Directed Reforms Can't Be Altered Justice Lodha

SC Directed Reforms Can't Be Altered Justice Lodha

Justice RM Lodha indicated on Saturday (May 27) that the CoA should focus more on ensuring the implementation of the Supreme Court's judgment rather than focusing too much on the management bit.

"The management and governance should not be mixed up. These are two different areas. And if you mix it up, you won't be traversing the right path," the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court told TOI.

Lodha said that the management should be taken care of by the CEO Rahul Johri and other professionals in the board while the CoA should focus on the governance.

"Professionals should handle the management of BCCI while governance aspect should be left to the CoA," he said while indicating that there isn't a reason why the CoA should delay the implementation.

The implementation of Lodha panel's recommendations have been delayed because the state cricket associations have reservations over certain issues and the CoA has assured them that it will put up these grievances in the Supreme Court during the next hearing.

Reacting to this, Justice Lodha said there was no going back on the reforms. "I don't know much about what is happening behind the scene, but the Supreme Court directed reforms can't be altered as per my understanding. There is no question of negotiating and those reforms have to be implemented," he said. However, a source close to CoA ruled out any delaying tactics and said the CoA was not shirking responsibility and that it was only trying to find common ground to ensure that the implementation is done at the earliest.

"The matter is in the Supreme Court and the moment the apex court gives us more clarity on the FAQs, the CoA will swing into action," he said while adding that managing the board members to agree on the Lodha reforms isn't an easy job.

Meanwhile Lodha suggested that e-auction was the best way to ensure that no foul play takes place when bids for IPL media rights take place. "In my opinion e-auction is the most transparent way to conduct high value contract bids. The e-auction is a must when you are talking about a thousand crore contract," Lodha added.