Supreme Court Lifts 9-Year BCCI Ban on Anurag Thakur
The Supreme Court has vacated the nine-year ban on former BCCI president Anurag Thakur, clearing the way for him to contest cricket board elections. The court accepted his unconditional apology, noting he had “suffered” the disqualification imposed in 2017 for non-implementation of Lodha Committee reforms.
Key Takeaways
- The Supreme Court lifted the nine-year ban on Anurag Thakur.
- Thakur can now contest BCCI elections after tendering an unconditional apology.
- The order does not affect pending criminal proceedings against him in a Delhi court.
- The BCCI supported his plea, citing his valuable experience.
Court Accepts Apology, Vacates Disqualification
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and KV Viswanathan passed the order on Wednesday. The court observed that Thakur was “remorseful” for his actions.
“We accept the unconditional apology tendered by the petitioner. The disqualification for the posts in BCCI stands vacated,” the bench said.
The court clarified that its order is separate from the pending criminal case in a Delhi court, where Thakur faces charges for allegedly filing a false affidavit.
Thakur’s Plea and BCCI’s Support
Thakur, a BJP MP from Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, had approached the Supreme Court last year. He argued he had served a “long period” of disqualification and wished to contribute to cricket again.
The BCCI filed an affidavit backing his plea, stating his experience would benefit the board.
Background: The Lodha Committee Reforms
The ban stemmed from Thakur’s failure to implement the Lodha Committee reforms “in letter and spirit.” These reforms, recommended by a panel led by former CJI RM Lodha, aimed to overhaul BCCI functioning for greater transparency and accountability.
