Relief for BCCI as Supreme Court dumps 'one state, one vote' policy, relaxes 'cooling-off' terms

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In a sigh of relief for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and some state bodies, the Supreme Court on Thursday approved the draft Constitution of the BCCI, relaxing some of the key terms laid down by the Lodha Committee. The Apex Court made some crucial modifications to the "one state, one vote" policy and in the "cooling-off" period of BCCI office-bearers.

The court also granted full permanent membership to the Railways, the Tri-Services, and Association of Indian Universities among others.

This restoration of permanent membership and votes is in reversal of the top court's earlier verdict mandating "one state one vote".

Pronouncing the judgment, a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra also restored the voting rights of the cricket associations of Gujarat and Maharashtra including Baroda, Saurashtra, Vidarbha and others.

The court cited the historical existence and contribution of these cricketing bodies in the rise and growth of the sport in India.

Relaxing the norms of the "cooling-off" period for BCCI officials, Justice DY Chandrachud said every office-bearer will have to undergo a cooling period after two consecutive terms. As per the amendment, BCCI office-bearers will now be able to serve two consecutive terms, instead of one.

The bench granted four weeks time to register the new modified constitution of BCCI with the Tamil Nadu Registrar of Societies.

The court also asked the state associations to adopt the BCCI constitution within 30 days and intimate the Committee of Administrators (CoA).