The Supreme Court on Thursday clarified that BJP leader and former President of Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) Anurag Thakur can associate with the cricket body.

A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said the 2017 order asking Thakur to "cease and desist" from being associated with working of the board was never meant to operate as a lifelong disqualification.

The order clears the way for Thakur to participate in BCCI's affairs in accordance with its rules and regulations.

In 2017, the top court had removed Thakur from the post of President and initiated contempt and perjury proceedings against him.

"Shri Anurag Thakur, President of BCCI and Shri Ajay Shirke, Secretary, BCCI shall forthwith cease and desist from being associated with the working of BCCI," the Court ordered on January 02, 2017.

Though the proceedings initiated against him for making false statements on affidavit and impeding court orders were dropped later, he continued to remain barred from associating with BCCI.

The case related to implementation of Lodha Committee report on reforms in the structure, organization and working of BCCI.

Thakur had been proceeded against for asking the International Cricket Council (ICC) "to state that the Committee appointed by this Court amounted to ‘governmental interference’."

"Such a solicitation was but an effort to thwart the implementation of the orders of the court. An attempt was made to build up a record to indicate that implementing the orders of the Supreme Court of India would run the risk of endangering the status of BCCI as a member of ICC," the Court had said.

Accordingly, the Court had found that Thakur by his actions and conduct rendered himself unfit for continuance as President of BCCI.