SC to hear contempt plea against N Srinivasan today

New Delhi: The Supreme Court will hear on Monday a contempt of court petition against the BCCI president in-exile  N Srinivasan for presiding over a working committee meeting on February 8 contrary to the apex court ruling disqualifying him from participating in any Board meetings.

A Bench of Justices T.S. Thakur and Ibrahim Kalifulla will hear the petition filed by Adithya Varma of Cricket Association of Bihar for a direction to initiate contempt of court proceedings against Mr Srinivasan.

In his petition Mr Varma said the apex court on January 22 held that no one who had any commercial interest in the BCCI events including Mr Srinivasan would be eligible for contesting the elections for any post whatsoever and that the disqualification for contesting elections applicable to those who were holding any commercial interest in BCCI events would hold good and continue till such time the person concerned held such commercial interest or till the Committee appointed by this Court considered and awarded  suitable punishment to those liable for the same;  whichever was later.

He said in view of this judgment Mr Srinivasan was disqualified to hold the post of President, BCCI and President TNCA since the definition of Administrators included Presidents of BCCI and Presidents of affiliated members. However, despite the disqualification Mr Srinivasan presided over the working committee meeting held on Feb. 8 and the meeting fixed the date of elections for March 2.

On a legal notice sent by him questioning the action, the Board sent a reply stating that Mr Srinivasan chaired the Working Committee as he had been cleared by the apex court of any wrong doing and hence he was well within his rights to attend and chair the working committee meeting.

Contending that this was a deliberate misinterpretation of the scope of this Court's order, Mr. Varma said Mr Srinivasan and the Board had committed contempt of court.