Timeline of Lodha panel formation and its recommendations

Following is the chronology of events relating to implementation of Justice R M Lodha panel recommendations on structural reforms in BCCI.

The panel was formed in January 2015 in the wake of the Justice Mudgal Committee report that called for reforms within the BCCI. The Mudgal panel had gone into state of affairs of the BCCI following the 2013 IPL betting and spot-fixing charges.

January 4, 2016: Justice R M Lodha panel submits its report to the Supreme Court on various aspects of reforms in the BCCI.

January 22: SC agrees to hear plea of the Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB) seeking the implementation of report of Justice R M Lodha panel.

February 4: SC asks BCCI to “fall in line” with Lodha panel recommendations, which suggested a massive restructuring.

February 24: SC agrees to hear BJP leader Subramanian Swamy’s plea against the Lodha Committee’s order suspending IPL franchisee Chennai Super Kings for two years.

March 1: The Orissa Cricket Association moves SC seeking to be impleaded in hearing related to implementation of Lodha panel recommendation suggesting restructuring of BCCI.

March 3: SC pulls up the BCCI over reluctance to accept Lodha panel’s recommendations; questions BCCI over lack of transparency in funds to states. 

March 3: SC also allays BCCI’s apprehension that it will face ICC’s ire for carrying out drastic restructuring by including CAG nominee saying it does not amount to government interference; questions BCCI for putting spoke in one state-one vote policy.

April 5: SC slams BCCI for not checking how hefty sums are being spent, saying it was “practically corrupting” its members by not seeking any explanation.

April 8: SC criticises BCCI for maintaining that any judicial interference in its functioning would compromise its autonomy, says sports body was resisting recommendations to reform.

April 11: Cricket Club of India (CCI) of Mumbai faces tough questions from SC on its resistance to structural reforms in the BCCI.

April 13: SC asks govt whether it can take over cricketing activities by enacting law.

April 25: SC pulls up BCCI for “monopolizing” cricket in the country, says several youngsters wanting to be Dhonis and Kohlis are not given equal opportunity.

April 29: SC pulls up BCCI, asks if politicians can retire at 70 why not BCCI office bearers.

May 2: SC says all state cricket associations have to “fall in line” with recommendations of Justice Lodha panel.

May 3: SC says constitution of BCCI is highly incapable of achieving values of transparency, objectivity and accountability which can be attained only by changing it.

May 3: BCCI tells SC that betting in cricket matches can be legalised only if a central law is enacted in this regard.

May 5: Ex-Indian team captain Bishan Singh Bedi and ex—cricketer Kirti Azad support Lodha panel report in SC.

May 10: Reforms in BCCI will not pull the body back, says SC clarifying that it does not intend to reduce popularity of the Board or hinder its growth.

May 18: CAB moves SC to stall BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur from contesting election to President’s post, saying a charge-sheeted person cannot contest under Lodha panel suggestions.

June 30: Hearings on implementation of Lodha panel report end in SC.

July 18: SC accepts major recommendations of Lodha panel on reforms in BCCI including a bar on ministers and civil servants and those above 70 from becoming its members; leaves it to Parliament to decide if it should come under RTI and betting on the game should be legalised