Order
1. Leave granted. These two civil appeals arise out of Cricket Assn. of Bihar v. Board of Control for Cricket in India (2013) 5 AIR Bom R 598 filed in the Bombay High Court by the Cricket Association of Bihar. In the PIL before the Bombay High Court, serious allegations of betting and spot fixing in IPL 2013 have been made against Mr Gurunath Meiyappan as the alleged Team Principal of Chennai Super Kings and also allegations of betting have been made against the part-team owner of IPL franchisee — Rajasthan Royals.
2. The team owner of Chennai Super Kings is India Cements Ltd. of which Mr N. Srinivasan, the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (for short “BCCI”), is the Managing Director and Mr Gurunath Meiyappan is the son-in-law of Mr N. Srinivasan.
3. We have heard these matters in part and posted these matters for further hearing to 16-4-2014 and it will take some more days after 16-4-2014 for hearing to be completed and for judgment to be delivered.
4. Mr N. Srinivasan, the President of BCCI, has made a written offer through his counsel that till the investigation into the allegations against him is completed he will not discharge any of the functions of the President of BCCI.
5. Mr Harish N. Salve, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the Cricket Association of Bihar, however, submitted that no further investigation into the allegations against Mr Srinivasan is necessary as the findings of the IPL Probe Committee appointed by this Court and the materials relied on by the said Committee for the findings are sufficient for this Court to remove Mr Srinivasan from the post of the President of BCCI as prayed in the PIL filed before the Bombay High Court.
6. As we are yet to hear all the parties in these matters, we cannot at this stage form any opinion and pass orders on the basis of such opinion for removal of Mr Srinivasan from the post of the President of BCCI.
7. IPL 2014 is, however, scheduled to commence on 16-4-2014 and we have to pass interim orders to ensure that all those who love cricket continue to watch cricket in IPL 2014 and the matches are played by the players in accordance with the IPL Rules.
8. Considering the fact that Mr Sunil Gavaskar was a cricket player of great repute and eminence, a captain of the Indian cricket team for a long period and has a wide experience in cricket related activities and of men and matters, we appoint him, as an interim measure, to function as and exercise the powers of the President of BCCI in relation to IPL 2014 till we hear and deliver the judgment in these matters. We make it clear that with regard to all other matters of BCCI, the seniormost Vice-President of BCCI, Mr Shiv Lal Yadav, will discharge the functions of the President of BCCI.
9. We also direct that till we deliver the judgment, none of the employees of India Cement Ltd. or its associate companies (except cricket players or commentators) will perform any of the duties assigned to them by BCCI and the interim President, Mr Sunil Gavaskar, will have power to engage the services of such persons on whom he has confidence for work in connection with IPL 2014.
10. We also direct that it is for Mr Gavaskar to decide as to whether Mr Sundar Raman, Chief IPL Operator would continue in IPL 2014 or some other arrangement has to be made in his place. In case of any difficulty, Mr Gavaskar may apply to this Court for appropriate orders.
11. Mr Gavaskar will not work as a commentator during this period as an interim President of BCCI in relation to IPL matters and he will be adequately compensated for his loss of income for this period by BCCI. The compensation amount will be determined after the Court resumes hearing on 16-4-2014.
12. We make it clear that we have not passed any order preventing any player or any team from participating in the IPL Tournament 2014. List for further hearing on 16-4-2014 on the top of the Board.
Court Masters