NewKerala.com

SC Lifts Lifelong Ban on Anurag Thakur from BCCI Affairs

The Supreme Court has lifted the lifelong ban on BJP leader and former BCCI President Anurag Thakur from participating in the cricket board's affairs. A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant held that such a permanent restriction was neither intended nor justified, applying the doctrine of proportionality. The Court modified its 2017 order, noting the ban had been in place for nearly nine years and Thakur had already tendered an unconditional apology. The case stemmed from 2017 contempt proceedings related to allegations of perjury concerning attempts to bypass Lodha Committee reforms.

Key Points: Supreme Court Lifts Anurag Thakur's BCCI Ban

  • Lifelong ban deemed disproportionate
  • Ban in force for nearly nine years
  • Thakur had tendered unconditional apology
  • Case related to 2017 contempt proceedings
3 min read

SC lifts ban on BJP leader Anurag Thakur from participating in BCCI affairs

Supreme Court lifts lifelong ban on BJP MP Anurag Thakur from BCCI affairs, citing doctrine of proportionality after 9-year restriction.

"a fit case to apply the doctrine of proportionality - Supreme Court Bench"

New Delhi, February 5

The Supreme Court on Thursday lifted the ban on BJP leader and Lok Sabha MP Anurag Singh Thakur from participating in the affairs of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, holding that a lifelong restriction on the former BCCI president was neither intended nor justified.

Thakur served as President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from May 2015 to February 2017.

A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said it was "a fit case to apply the doctrine of proportionality" and clarified that the Court "did not intend to impose a lifelong ban, nor is that warranted."

Accordingly, the Court modified paragraph 25(ii) of its January 2, 2017 judgment and held that Thakur shall be free to participate in the affairs of BCCI as per the rules and regulations.

During the hearing, the Court noted that directions 3 and 4 of the January 2, 2017 judgment had already been withdrawn, and the present application only concerned the bar imposed under paragraph 25(ii). The counsel appearing for Thakur submitted that the ban had been in force for nearly nine years and that its continuation would cause serious hardship.

Accepting this submission, the Bench also recorded that Thakur had already tendered an unconditional apology, which had been accepted by the Court.

In 2017, the Supreme Court issued a notice to Anurag Thakur seeking an explanation on why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him. The Court had asked him to respond to allegations of perjury raised against him in connection with seeking an intervention through a letter from the ICC to bypass the implementation of the Lodha Committee recommendations.

The Court was hearing a plea filed by Thakur in connection with contempt proceedings arising from the January 2, 2017, order, when a show-cause notice was issued to him under the Contempt of Courts Act.

The apex court had on January 2 issued a notice to Thakur seeking an explanation as to why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him. The court had sought a reply from Thakur regarding perjury charges levelled against him by the amicus curiae Gopal Subramanian.

On December 15, the top court had observed that Thakur, prima facie, appears to have committed a matter of perjury in relation to demanding an intervention via a letter from the International Cricket Council (ICC) in order to sidestep the implementation of the Lodha Committee recommendations.

After reviewing the sequence of earlier orders, the Court concluded that continuation of the ban was disproportionate and no longer necessary.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
I have mixed feelings. On one hand, everyone deserves a second chance. On the other, trying to bypass the Lodha reforms was a serious matter. I hope he uses this opportunity to genuinely contribute to cricket, not politics within BCCI.
R
Rohit P
Finally some common sense! The ban had served its purpose. The doctrine of proportionality is key here. You can't punish someone forever for a mistake. Hope he brings some positive change now.
S
Sarah B
As a cricket fan, I just want the best people running the game. If the court says the ban is no longer necessary, I trust their judgment. The focus should be on transparency and the sport's future.
V
Vikram M
Respectfully, I disagree with this lifting. The attempt to get ICC involved to undermine our own Supreme Court's committee was a blatant disregard for the institution. It sets a worrying precedent for accountability in sports bodies.
K
Karthik V
The court has spoken. Time to look forward. BCCI needs experienced hands, especially with all the new leagues and formats. Hope he has learned his lesson and works for the betterment of Indian cricket.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50