End of journey for N Srinivasn, Sharad Pawar; Anurag Thakur to quit HPCA following SC verdict?

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today concurred with Justice R M Lodha Committee's recommendation to abolish holding of dual posts, one in state cricket association and other in BCCI, saying there was "nothing irrational" in this view taken by the panel.

A bench of Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justice F M I Kalifulla said the contention, that it should be allowed to hold office simultaneously in BCCI and state association, "has not commended itself to us".

The verdict will impact BCCI President Anurag Thakur (Himachal Pradesh), Secretary Ajay Shirke (Maharashtra), Treasurer Aniruddh Chaudhary (Haryana) and Joint Secretary Amitabh Chaudhary (Jharkhand) as they will have to forego their positions in their respective state associations to avoid "conflict of interest".

The court also noted that the committee while recommending abolition of dual posts had observed that BCCI office bearers have to keep the national interest in mind.

However, it said, when they also hold a post in a state association, they are often found to appoint their state associates to critical posts in BCCI, thereby creating an imbalance.

"There is nothing irrational about the view taken by the Committee. The argument that individuals should be eligible to hold two posts one each in the state association and the BCCI does not stand scrutiny in the light of the reasons given by the Committee which do not, in our opinion, suffer from any perversity to call for our interference," the bench said.  

Former BCCI presidents Sharad Pawar and N. Srinivasan may also have to give up on their ambitions of heading the world`s richest cricket body again as both of them have surpassed the age cap of 70 years. While Pawar is 75 years old, Srinivasan is 71.