Supreme Court may rethink one-state, one-vote policy

One of the Justice Lodha panel’s recommendations, which was later approved by the apex court in its 2016 verdict, was that there would be one cricket association, having full time membership and voting rights in the BCCI, in one state. 

This had led to the loss of permanent membership and voting rights to iconic bodies like Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), Cricket Club of India (CCI), Vidarbha Cricket Association, Baroda Cricket Association and Saurashtra Cricket Association. These bodies are in Maharashtra and Gujarat respectively which have separate permanent membership of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said so far as the one-state, one-vote policy with regard to north-eastern states was concerned, it will not be re-considered. 

However, the bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, indicated that it may consider the aspect of the cricket bodies of Maharashtra and Gujarat as they have played a historic role in the game and cannot be left out. 

“So far as eastern states are concerned, you cannot deny them (the right)...we are on the principle of inclusion,” it said. 

The apex court, meanwhile, asked the state cricket associations and BCCI office-bearers to give suggestions on the draft constitution for the apex cricket body to senior advocate Gopal Subramanium, who is assisting it as an amicus curiae, before May 11, the next date of hearing.

It said the draft constitution has to be in tune with the Lodha panel recommendations and its verdict. The draft would be finalised by the court and be binding on the BCCI. 

However, it clarified that its order on the petitions seeking recall of the 2016 verdict would deal with the validity of the draft constitution.