Former Union Minister and former BCCI President Anurag Thakur has got a big relief from the Supreme Court. The court has given him permission to participate in BCCI activities. In 2017, the court dismissed Thakur from the post of BCCI President. After the new order of the Supreme Court, now there is no court obstacle in his becoming a cricket board official again.
What is the matter?
In 2015, the Supreme Court had formed a committee to give suggestions on improving the functioning of the Cricket Board. Its chairmanship was handed over to former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court RM Lodha. In 2016, the committee submitted its recommendations to the court. The court directed to implement them, but BCCI’s attitude regarding this remained evasive. On January 2, 2017, the court had removed BCCI President Anurag Thakur and Secretary Ajay Shirke from their posts for creating hurdles in implementing the recommendations.
Why was the Supreme Court angry?
The Supreme Court had expressed deep displeasure over a letter written by Anurag Thakur to the International Cricket Council i.e. ICC. In this letter, Thakur had requested ICC to oppose the appointment of CAG representative in BCCI. Since the Lodha Committee had also recommended keeping an auditor in the board. In such a situation, the Supreme Court considered it a direct fraud on the court. The court had also issued a contempt notice to Thakur.
Amnesty was granted the same year
However, on July 14, 2017, Anurag Thakur got pardon from the Supreme Court. Thakur was accused of contempt of court and giving wrong information to the court. He appeared personally in the court and apologized unconditionally for both the charges. This was accepted by the court.
what happened today?
On behalf of Anurag Thakur, senior lawyer PS Patwalia requested the court that now he should be allowed to participate in activities related to the cricket board. The bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant said that it has been 9 years since the order. The court did not intend that Anurag Thakur be banned forever from the functioning of the Cricket Board, hence he can participate in its activities as per the rules of the Cricket Board.
