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No funds for England series, BCCI moves Supreme Court
MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) today moved the Supreme Court, saying there are no funds for the India-England Test series scheduled to start tomorrow (9 November) in Rajkot. The BCCI said the Lodha panel has to release funds needed for the series with immediate effect.
The Supreme Court bench says it will consult the Chief Justice of India on the matter. In response, the Lodha panel has opposed BCCI submission, saying that the cricket body is in contempt by not respective apex court orders.
Justice RM Lodha panel secretary, Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, told the Hindu neither the BCCI nor its member-state associations has given compliance reports or undertakings that they would comply with the recommendations as per the Supreme Court verdict on October 21.
The court has frozen the disbursal of funds from BCCI to state member-associations till the latter comply with the panel recommendations. The Board approached Justice Dave’s Bench as Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur is heading a Constitution Bench. Justice Dave said his Bench would consult with the Chief Justice and get back at 2 pm.
The new move on the eve of the series comes despite the Supreme Court concluding in a 21-page judgment that BCCI’s top administrators, including its president and BJP MP Anurag Thakur, were an impediment to Justice R.M. Lodha Committee’s efforts to reform Indian cricket.
Senior counsel for the BCCI, Kapil Sibal, and his team gathered to draft the petition. BCCI’s contention is that, in line with the October 21 order of the SC, the BCCI president and the secretary both have filed their respective affidavits with the Lodha Committee. The Board says it hasn’t heard from the committee yet and there’s been no acknowledgement on the affidavits and the email communication either.
BCCI is looking to raise the matter in the SC today, citing absolute confusion in the matter that has led to all administrative processes coming to a standstill. The Board says, “there are contracts waiting to be signed, agreements with the England Cricket Board is pending, there’s no word on the IPL media rights tender and there’s hardly any time left for the 2017 edition and preparations need to begin.”
The apex court, in a slew of directions, had sought appointment of an “independent auditor” to “scrutinise and audit” the income and expenditure of the cash-rich body besides going into high-value contracts awarded to various entities awarded by it.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
