The Delhi High Court Wednesday agreed to hear a plea seeking to declare the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as a national sports body.
"The petition is either to convert the BCCI into a national sport federation (NSF) or create an NSF for cricket. The question is whether it (NSF) is needed to be declared," said a division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and R.S. Endlaw.
The court's direction came as the central government said it cannot "govern or guide" the BCCI.
"The Union of India has said it cannot declare the BCCI a national sports federation," Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain told the bench.
The court also rejected the contention raised by BCCI that the issue raised in the plea was already being heard by the Supreme Court, where the Justice Mudgal committee had submitted it report.
"That (Mudgal) committee is concerned with functioning of the BCCI. It has nothing to do with conversion of the BCCI into a national sports federation," the court said directing the BCCI to submit a copy of the Mudgal Committee report on the Indian Premier League (IPL) spot-fixing.
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The BCCI, however, said the Mudgal report was kept in a sealed cover which was accessible only to the Supreme Court bench hearing it.
The high court then asked it to submit an affidavit in that regard before Oct 29, the next date of hearing.
The bench was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by NGO Association for Social and Humanitarian Affairs, seeking direction to the government to take control of the BCCI and all its cricketing affairs, including the IPL.