In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court of India has granted major relief to former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Anurag Thakur by modifying a restrictive order from 2017. The bench, comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, amended the earlier directive that had barred Thakur from being associated with any BCCI-related activities. This ruling effectively ends a multi-year hiatus for the veteran administrator in the realm of national cricket governance.
Modification of the 2017 Restrictive Order
The legal conflict dates back to January 2017, when the apex court issued a 'cease and desist' order against Anurag Thakur and then-Secretary Ajay Shirke. The court had removed them from their positions for failing to implement the reforms suggested by the Justice Lodha Committee. The recent modification comes after Thakur filed a petition seeking clarity and relief from the long-standing restriction, while the court clarified that Thakur is now eligible to participate in BCCI functions, meetings, and other administrative matters, provided he adheres to the board's current rules and regulations.
Historical Context: The Lodha Committee Reforms
Anurag Thakur assumed the presidency of the BCCI in 2016, a period marked by intense judicial scrutiny of the board's internal functioning. The Justice Lodha Committee had proposed sweeping changes to ensure transparency, including age and tenure caps and the 'one state, one vote' policy. The resistance from the then-BCCI leadership led to a confrontation with the judiciary, resulting in the 2017 ouster. While perjury and contempt proceedings against Thakur were dropped later in 2017 following an unconditional apology, the administrative ban had remained in place until this recent intervention.
Administrative Eligibility and Future Implications
With the lifting of this ban, Anurag Thakur, who is also a Member of Parliament and a former Union Minister, regains his standing to represent state associations or contest positions within the BCCI framework. However, any future role will be subject to the eligibility criteria defined in the amended BCCI constitution, including the mandatory 'cooling-off' periods. Observers note that this decision restores the administrative rights of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) representative, potentially altering the power dynamics within the board's general body meetings.
Analysis by Legal and Sports Experts
According to legal analysts, the Supreme Court's decision to modify the order suggests that the judiciary views the primary objectives of the 2017 intervention as having been met. Experts suggest that since the BCCI has already adopted a new constitution approved by the court, maintaining individual-specific bans from the transition period is no longer necessary for the board's integrity. Analysts emphasize that this move aligns with the principle of administrative fairness, allowing individuals to return to governance roles once the grounds for their removal have been legally addressed or mitigated.
Ultimately, the removal of the ban on Anurag Thakur marks the end of a contentious chapter in Indian cricket administration. While his immediate involvement remains to be seen given his political commitments, the legal hurdle preventing his participation has been cleared, while the focus now shifts to how the BCCI incorporates this change in its upcoming administrative cycles and whether Thakur seeks a formal return to the board's leadership hierarchy.