Madras HC issues notice to BCCI on CSK plea

Madras High Court on Friday issued notice to Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on a petition submitted by Chennai Super Kings, challenging the order of Justice Lodha Committee to suspend the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise over the 2013 betting scam involving its top official Gurunath Meiyappan.

A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice T.S. Sivagnanam, also allowed Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB), on whose plea the Supreme Court had directed probe in IPL-6 betting and spot fixing scandal, to implead in the case. The court adjourned the hearing to next Thursday.

CSK and Rajasthan Royals (RR) were suspended for two years by the Supreme Court-appointed Lodha panel as punishment for betting activities of their key officials Meiyappan and Raj Kundra during the 2013 season. In an affidavit, CSK sought a stay on the decision, alleging that the Lodha panel's July 14 order is against the fundamental principles of natural justice and fair hearing.

"The refusal of the Justice Lodha Commission to enter into the dispute of whether the Franchise (CSK), its owner India Cements Ltd, were guilty of violating Clause 4.1.1 of the IPL operational rules has led to grave miscarriage of justice," said the company in its affidavit.

While referring to the Supreme Court order in January last, the petition said: "Gurunath Meiyappan had been (found) guilty of betting but not spot fixing, match fixing or misuse of inside information...Meiyappaan never had shares in India Cements nor was he is in the management of the company."

The judges adjourned the case for further hearing to August 27 and the high court also ordered issuance of notice to India Cements, besides BCCI.

The bench said, "We would like to hear the concerned parties on the issue of maintainability of the petition first in the context of the relief sought in the past proceedings and orders passed by Honourable Supreme Court before we proceed to examine the issue on merits."