Ramachandra Guha goes out in 'frustration'

He came, he saw and he resigned. That is how noted historian Ramachandra Guha's tenure as a member of the Committee of Administrators (COA) could be described.

Guha, who was named as part of the four-member COA on January 30, 2017 by the Supreme Court, informed a Vacation Bench of Justices MM Shantanagoudar and Deepak Gupta on Thursday that he has submitted his resignation to COA chief Vinod Rai on May 28 "citing personal reasons".

However, it is said that he is frustrated with the way BCCI has been reluctant in implementing the recommendations of the Justice Lodha panel.

The Bench asked Guha to file his plea in the registry and posted the case for hearing on July 14, after the SC re-opens post summer vacations. The matter will then come before the Special Bench hearing the BCCI case comprising Justices Dipak Misra, AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud.

Besides Guha and Rai, COA comprises of former women cricketer Diana Edulji and IDFC MD and CEO Vikram Limaye.

COA was meant to function as the new interim bosses of the BCCI and run the day-to-day administration of the cricket body till the Justice Lodha reforms are fully implemented and elections are held.

But even after more than three months, there are still the same old BCCI officials who are running the show in Mumbai headquarters or in various state associations.

It has been learnt that Guha didn't discuss his resignation with any of his COA colleagues although his submission to the Supreme Court states that he had intimated Rai.

DNA has reliably learnt that Guha didn't discuss his intentions with anyone in the COA. "This is shocking to me as he never told me regarding this. I only came to know from media," said a member of the COA.

The acclaimed historian was also apparently miffed with the recent developments in the Team India where chief coach Anil Kumble and captain Virat Kohli are said to be engaged in an ugly spat over control of the team.

Add to this, Guha has reportedly not charged a single penny from BCCI till date despite the fact that he was entitled to a payment of Rs one lakh per working day along with other COA members.