E-Paper
BCCI alone can decide telecast rights
BCCI told the court it could not be bound to have dealings with someone regarding the telecast rights.
India's cricket board on Wednesday told the Madras High Court that it owned the telecast rights to cricket matches in the country and was entitled to independently deal with anyone in this regard.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) told the court it could not be compelled to have dealings with someone regarding the telecast rights.
The BCCI was responding to a petition filed by Zee Telefilms challenging the termination of a tender for telecasting cricket matches.
The board said in its affidavit that the termination of the contract was done taking into account an observation by the Mumbai High Court and also by virtue of the right retained by the board in inviting bids for the telecast rights.
The BCCI told the court that once the decision to terminate the tender process was executed, "the purported relief cannot be implemented or enforced in the eye of law".
"The board's decision is not subject to judicial review," the BCCI affidavit claimed, praying for the dismissal of Zee's petition.
The high court had earlier adjourned to February 17 the hearing of a petition filed by Zee seeking a direction from the court.
Judge KP Sivasubramanian had asked the BCCI to give an undertaking that it would not finalise any tender or contract till February 17 for telecast of cricket matches in India and also sought an explanation from the board.
