Aditya Verma writes to Centre on implications of sports bill for BCCI

New Delhi: Aditya Verma, petitioner in the Indian Premier League (IPL) fixing scandal, on Friday said any sports bill passed by the Centre will nullify the recommendations of the Justice Lodha Committee and will be "counter productive and misconceived".

"Any attempt to get the Parliament to pass a law regarding the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will only result in government taking control of BCCI and the autonomy which BCCI will enjoy even after the complete implementation of the recommendations of the Justice Lodha Committee will be rendered nugatory," Verma wrote in a letter addressed to Sports Minister Vijay Goel.

"Hence the move, if any, to get any legislation passed to nullify the recommendations of the Justice Lodha Committee will be counter productive and misconceived."

"There is speculation in the media that the BCCI is intending to approach the Government of India to introduce a bill which contains provisions to get over the recommendations of the Justice Lodha Committee, eventually serving the vested interest of the Board."

"The office bearers of the BCCI should appreciate that notwithstanding the far-reaching reforms to ensure transparency, the recommendations preserve the autonomy of the Board. The Lodha Committee has made no recommendation for government interference in BCCI's functioning," he added.

BCCI is facing a September 30 deadline to implement widespread reforms in BCCI's mode of functioning, on the recommendations of the Supreme Court-appointed Justice Lodha panel.