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India: Will implement Lodha Reforms right away, says BCCI senior vice president

DNA
New Delhi, Delhi, IndiaUpdated: Jan 02, 2017, 09:34 AM IST
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'Senior-most vice president of BCCI will act as president and joint secretary will act as secretary,' the Supreme Court said. In photo: Ajay Shirke (left) and Anurag Thakur. Photograph:(Zee News Network)

Rattled after the Supreme Court removed both BCCI president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke, the Board's senior vice-president Gokaraju Ganga Raju made it clear that his association, Andhra CA, would implement the Lodha reforms with immediate effect.

"There is no confusion as Supreme Court has passed its verdict. As the president of Andhra Cricket Association we would implement Lodha reforms in totality with immediate effect. If it means that we have to go into cooling off period, so be it. Indian cricket should move forward," Ganga Raju told news agency PTI.

When he was asked why Andhra CA did not adhere to the Lodha reforms earlier, Ganga Raju said: "It was because everyone was together. But now when the verdict is out there is no question of defiance. We have been in BCCI long enough to know how to run administration.

"Andhra has 19 cricket grounds owned by association and a second international stadium is coming up. We would do a good job," he concluded.

Earlier on Monday, in a blow for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Supreme Court removed Anurag Thakur and Ajay Shirke from the post of BCCI President and Secretary respectively.

The court gave the decision while hearing perjury charges levelled against Thakur by amicus curiae Gopal Subramaniam.

Issuing a contempt notice to Thakur, the top court said that the committee of the administrator will look after the affairs of BCCI. "Senior-most Vice President of BCCI will act as President and Joint Secretary will act as Secretary," the Supreme Court said.

The apex court also requested senior advocate Fali Nariman and Gopal Subramaniam to assist in nominating persons of impeccable integrity as members of the committee of administrators.

The court further added that all office bearers of BCCI and state associations must give an undertaking to abide by recommendations of Lodha Committee. "All office bearers of BCCI and state associations who refuse to abide by recommendations of Lodha panel shall demit office forthwith," court said.

On December 15, the top court had observed that prima facie Thakur appeared to have committed matter of perjury in relation to demanding an intervention via a letter from the International Cricket Council (ICC) in order to sidestep the implementation of the Lodha committee recommendations.

The apex court, which was hearing the Lodha panel's third status report which asked for the removal of the top brass of the BCCI, also asked the Amicus Curiae whether Thakur committed perjury or not in the case.

In reply, the Amicus Curiae revealed that the BCCI chief, in his affidavit submitted to the top court, had said that he sought Shashank Manohar's opinion as the BCCI chairman, which was denied by the latter saying that it was asked in the ICC meeting.

On October 1, the board had accepted many of the "significant recommendations" of the Lodha Committee, but excluded the important ones which have been a bone of contention between the cricket body and the Lodha Panel.

(With inputs from PTI and DNA)