CoA will cease to function after elected office-bearers take over BCCI: SC

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, October 22

Committee of Administrators’ (CoA) – which has been running the cricket administration in India for quite some time — will cease to exist after the elected office-bearers take over the functions of the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI), the Supreme Court said on Tuesday.

The four-member CoA of former CAG Vinod Rai, Ramachandra Guha, Vikaram Limaye and Diana Edulji was appointed by the top court on 30 January 2017 to run the administration of BCCI – the most cash-rich cricket body—and implement the reforms suggested by Justice RM Lodha Committee.

Led by Sourav Ganguly, the BCCI office-bearers are likely to take over the cricket administration on Wednesday.

A Bench headed by Justice SA Bobde said the CoA shall demit office upon assumption of charge by newly-elected BCCI office bearers and they shall stand discharged of all obligations.

Taking note of submissions made by senior advocate Parag Tripathi on behalf of CoA, the Bench – which also included Justice L Nageswara Rao—gave CoA members immunity from action in respect of any act performed by them in good faith. No proceedings could be initiated against CoA members individually or jointly without the court’s permission, it added.

It said the BCCI would bear the expenses towards litigation and discharge of function of COA and other officials. It also approved the proposal for remuneration of CoA signed by the CEO and ordered that the money be disbursed within 48 hours.

The top court directed the CoA to submit its approved accounts to the Registrar of Societies, Tamil Nadu Society, with which the BCCI is registered, in seven days and the Registrar shall deal with it in accordance with law.

“By taking on record the accounts of the BCCI, we are not certifying the expenses,” the Bench clarified while posting the matter for further hearing on November 27.