No respite for BCCI from ‘one state, one vote’ and age reforms

One state, one member, one vote

The impact: 1) This recommendation reduces at least four existing associations from being full members of the BCCI to associates. At present, state associations of Maharashtra, Mumbai and Vidarbha – each functioning independently in the state of Maharashtra – and Gujarat, Baroda and Saurashtra – each functioning independently in the state of Gujarat – have one vote each in the BCCI elections. The Lodha Committee proposed that the six votes be reduced to two, one each from each state, with one association representing the state at the BCCI on rotational basis for a period of one year.

The states’ objections: The legal counsels of the different states and the BCCI lawyer contested that not only did the six members of Maharashtra and Gujarat represent a definite geographical territory and field teams, but they also contributed to the development of the game in their respective regions. It was argued that having one member represent the entire state was “fraught with difficulty and ignored the historical perspective.”

Court’s response: The rotational arrangement would give each association a right to a full member’s vote when its turn came around, without violating the broader principle of ‘one state one vote’ recommended by the committee. Such a system would also respect the history of these associations, their role in the promotion the game and the formation of the BCCI. These state bodies can continue to field teams in domestic tournaments, and the BCCI will decide the order in which the full membership rotates among the associations.

2) The Lodha committee also recommended that five full members of the BCCI – Railways Sports Promotion Board, Association of Indian Universities, Services Sports Control Board, National Cricket Club (Kolkata) and Cricket Club of India (Mumbai) – be relegated to associate status.

The …

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