Supreme Court agrees to hear CAB's plea for Lodha panel report implementation

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear on December 5 a plea of Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB) seeking a direction to BCCI to implement the suggestions of Lodha panel, including appointment of ex-home secretary GK Pillai as observer and sacking of all office bearers who are in violation of its recommendations. CAB mentioned the matter before a bench comprising Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justice DY Chandrachud, which perused the third status report submitted by the Justice RM Lodha Lodha committee, and said that the plea would come up for hearing on December 5 when the main matter would be heard. Full Cricket Scorecard: India vs England 3rd Test at Mohali

"We will hear it on December 5," the bench said when CAB, through its secretary Aditya Varma, said that Pillai should be apponted as an observer of BCCI as per the suggestions of the Lodha panel. In its third status report submitted in the apex court on November 14, the Lodha panel has sought a direction to appoint Pillai as an observer to "guide" BCCI in administrative works including award of contracts, transparency norms and holding of future domestic, international and IPL matches. The committee has also sought a declaration from the court that all office bearers of cash-rich BCCI and state cricket bodies, who are in violation of laid down norms with regard to 70 year age cap, citizenship and tenures, "cease to hold office forthwith". BCCI sets up anti-doping helpline for domestic cricketers

"While the day-to-day administration of BCCI is presently carried out by the CEO and certain managers who assist him in this regard, there would be a need to appoint an observer who would guide BCCI in its administration, particularly with reference to the award of contracts, transparency norms, audit, etc., for domestic, international and IPL cricket to be played hereafter. BCCI planning to introduce cash cards for players

"The committee recommends that GK Pillai, former Union home secretary be appointed as the observer, with a power to appoint auditor and all necessary secretarial staff, assistance and remuneration as may be determined appropriate by the committee," the report, filed through panel's secretary Gopal Sankaranarayanan, has said.

It has referred to recommendations, approved by the court, on criteria for holding posts in BCCI and state cricket bodies and said that they include that a person should be an Indian citizen and below 70 years of age.