BCCI to hold SGM to discuss Lodha report

Mumbai: Cornered by the Supreme Court's latest missive to "fall in line" with the recommendations of the Justice R M Lodha Committee, the BCCI on Sunday decided to convene a Special General Meeting (SGM) before responding to the apex court.

Shashank Manohar, himself a lawyer by profession, attended the meeting of its legal panel here comprising PS Raman (Tamil Nadu, chairman), DVSS Somayajulu (Andhra) and Abhay Apte (Maharashtra), along with treasurer Anirudh Chaudhary.

It is learnt, that in the meeting, it was decided that an SGM would be convened at the earliest to get the views of the BCCI's various affiliates before it responds to the Supreme Court on the issue.

As per the BCCI's Memorandum of Rules and Regulations 21 days' notice has to be given to convene an SGM, but the President has the discretionary powers to direct the secretary to convene an SGM "at shorter notice in which case as a notice of at least 10 days shall be given."

The apex court had said on February 4 that the recommendations are "straight, rational and understandable" and "deserve respect" and "there is no reason to disagree with the committee" which has the most "illuminated and respected members of the legal community".

While four weeks time was granted to the BCCI to respond to the implementation of the recommendations, the court had made it clear that there should not be any difficulty in accepting the recommendations.

The remarks by a bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur came after senior advocate Shekhar Naphade, representing BCCI, said there was a need to consult the 30-odd members of the Board on the recommendations and in view of its legal committee's meeting today, four weeks be allowed to respond.