Verdict// In what surely was a googly to N Srinivasan, he was asked to choose between his IPL team Chennai Super Kings and BCCI president’s post.

Supreme Court recently struck down the controversial 6.2.4 clause that allows BCCI officials to own IPL teams. “BCCI must ensure institutional integrity in the conduct of game considering the expectations of millions of viewers. Rule 6.2.4 violates principle of natural justice,” the court said.

After almost 18 months of deliberations on the 2013 Indian Premier League betting and match-fixing scandal, the Supreme Court has barred N. Srinivasan from contesting Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) elections till such time he had “commercial interest in cricket.”

The court earlier said Srinivasan’s sonin- law Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra of Rajasthan Royals were involved in betting. In its 130-page order, the court said Srinivasan was not guilty of cover-up and “charges against him, at best, be regarded as suspicion.” The two-judge special bench however said “BCCI functions are public functions, amenable to judicial law.”

A three-member panel headed by former Chief Justice of India RM Lodha and other former judges of the top court - Ashok Bhan and RV Ravindran, was also formed to decide the fate of Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals and recommend changes in the BCCI constitution. The panel will give its report in six months. Former BCCI president IS Bindra said, “It’s a shame that a court has appointed to find out how the Board has been running for some time now.”