Justice (Retd) DK Jai will continue to be the ombudsman and ethics officer of the Board of Control for Cricket in India for one more year.
Even though his earlier term got over on February 29, a confirmation on the 12-month extension has come only last week. The first ombudsman of the BCCI, who was later also given the charge of the ethics officer, will continue in both the roles.
Justice (Retd) Jain has himself confirmed to media his reappointment to the twin posts.
“Yes, my contract has been extended for a period of 12 months and I formally took over last week after sending my consent,” he was reported as saying. “I am yet to start the proceedings. There was a gap of two months in between and thus I will have to look at the pending matters and decide future course of action accordingly.”
The ombudsman has also confirmed that as and when required he would only conduct virtual hearings till the COVID-19 threat relents.
The man who in his last term had handled disputes like conflict of interest of the three-member cricket advisory panel, comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman and high profile case of disgraceful comments by Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul in the Coffee With Karran show, will now have the challenge to deal with the short terms of Ganguly as the board president and secretary Jay Shah.
Both have appealed to the Supreme Court to amend the age and tenure clause to allow them complete their terms in the BCCI office.
Justice (Retd) Jain said he will continue to operate under the current rules, unless the court modifies its order. “I have got nothing to do with that (BCCI’s appeal). I have to go by the rules and regulations already adopted. Unless there is any change by any order of the Supreme Court, I am governed by the existing rules,” he told Hindustan Times.