IPL suspension: Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals can challenge in High Court, say experts

The only option for the two teams-- Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR)-- suspended by the RM Lodha Committee, is to challenge the findings in the High Court, say legal experts.

Lawyers say that BCCI might just be helpless when it comes to the suspension of the two teams by the Supreme Court appointed committee. “The award of punishment for misconduct was left to an independent committee to exercise that power for and on the behalf of BCCI,” says Ramesh Vaidyanathan, managing partner, Advaya Legal. “Since today’s report of the Justice Lodha Committee is an action taken for the BCCI, it can only be a mute spectator to any legal challenge that the aggrieved may mount.

BCCI will be expected to implement the committee mandate in the meantime, which is to rework the league and reallocate the players if necessary.” The order of the committee headed by former Chief Justice of India also suspended Gurunath Meiyappan, son-in-law of former BCCI president, N Srinivasan. Meiyappan was suspended by the committee for life along with Raj Kundra, former co-owner of RR. Legal experts point out that since the action in the matter is taken by the committee on behalf of BCCI, based on the cricket body's bylaws, the latter cannot challenge the decision in the court of law.

Earlier the SC had said that franchisee owners could also face action in the matter. Meanwhile for CSK and RR would have to approach the courts in case if they want to challenge the committee findings. The two teams do not have any recourse in the BCCI bylaws.

“The fact that the verdict has been rendered by a SC appointed committee or that it comprises retired SC judges does not preclude the jurisdiction of the High Court to decide the issue," said a senior lawyer.