Zee writ has no meaning: BCCI to SC

This is a bone of contention as the definition of ‘‘the State’’ in Article 12 includes not just the Government but also ‘‘all local or other authorities within the territory of India.’’

Zee TV’s counsel Harish Salve asserted that BCCI fell within ‘‘other authorities’’ as it was the regulatory body of cricket and sole representative of India as a country at all levels of the game and the team fielded by it plays as India.

But the thrust of Venugopal’s submissions was that BCCI could not be subjected to writ jurisdiction as it had no links with the Government and did not receive any grant from the Government. All that the Government did, he said, was to recognise BCCI as the apex national body to regulate the game of cricket. The arguments before the bench headed by Justice Santosh Hegde will resume tomorrow.