Amyth has been exploded ~ the judiciary is not infallible. The open, vicious, differences in the apex court-appointed Committee of Administrators proves it is “not playing cricket”. And if their Lordships wish to avoid further public ridicule they must restore the management of cricketing affairs to the elected representatives of that sporting community ~ who will, at least, be answerable to somebody.

Had there been such unabashed confrontation within an elected body demands would have flowed for its supersession, why should things be any different because the COA is a creation of judicial arrogance? True that the “original” BCCI was no paragon of virtue but did the likes of Justices Lodha and Mudgal think they had all the answers? Leaving it to a three-member outfit to take over the bestrun sport in the country was ill-advised, and when one of the trio stepped aside the apex court chose to ignore the possibility of its two “executors” having major differences.

Would their Lordships permit another “tribunal” to function without someone having a casting vote? Vinod Rai and Diana Edulji should be removed by the same skewed diktat that had initially empowered them with authority they never deserved. Arrogant governments have just been ousted by “people’s power” but the judicially appointed committee is oblivious to such realities. The classic political argument that good governance is no substitute for self-governance must “register” ~ even when the courts over-step their mandate.

Not that Rai and Edulji have proved capable administrators. The latter took sides in the ugly scrap between an accomplished player and an unimpressive coach. Worse, she relied upon other players to drum up support for Ramesh Powar.

And dragged the matter to unexpected depths by reviving another ugly episode, citing it to demand “gender equality”: thereby denigrating the case for fair treatment for the “fair sex”. Questioning the appointment of an ad hoc committee to pick a new coach was a disservice to both the reputed cricketers on that panel, as well as those who applied for the job.

Only the village idiot will not perceive a connection between the Rai-Eduljui stand-off and an earlier row over a gender-oriented dispute. Both of them stand “smaller” now. There is as little point in trying to establish whether Rai or Edulji is wrong, just as entering the Mithali-Harmanpreet spat would be sickening.

Yet the stand-off in the COA is an entirely different league: the present CJI and his colleagues on the bench may not have been involved in the appointment of Rai and Edulji, yet can they sit back and see dirt flying around under the “shield” of being court-appointed? It would be an act of moral courage, not shame, for the court to now order the junking of a panel that disgraces the judiciary.