KOCHI: A criminal court exonerating cricketer S Sreesanth of spot-fixing charges is not enough to lift the lifetime ban on him, Board of Control for Cricket in India ( BCCI ) has told the Kerala High Court BCCI was responding to a petition filed by Sreesanth challenging the continuation of the life ban by the governing body despite a Delhi court dropping the charges against him on July 25, 2015. He has claimed that such a ban violates his constitutional rights.An affidavit filed by BCCI opposing Sreesanth's petition stated, "The decision of the Sessions Court to acquit the petitioner from criminal charges has no impact whatsoever on the decision of the internal disciplinary committee of the BCCI to ban the petitioner from playing cricket tournaments organized by the BCCI and/or its affiliates. The question before the Sessions Court was whether the petitioner (and other accused) were guilty of penal consequences under relevant criminal statutes. On the other hand, the question before the BCCI DC was whether the petitioner is guilty of match fixing, corruption and gambling and violation of the internal disciplinary rules of the BCCI. The standard of proof required under a penal statute is much higher than the proof required for a disciplinary inquiry. Therefore, on an appreciation of the same evidence, one may not be guilty of criminal consequences but can be found guilty for violating the internal disciplinary rules of an organization."Further, BCCI claimed that the sessions court was aware of its decision to ban Sreesanth while discharging him. The court had recognized the offence of match fixing and betting and the incidental conduct of players and bookies in furtherance of these activities. The court had noted that necessary penal action has already been sanctioned against the errant players and other people, the affidavit said.Even after the sessions court's order, the working committee of the BCCI had met on October 18, 2015 and decided not to lift the ban on Sreesanth, BCCI informed the court. No new circumstances exist to lift the lifetime ban, the affidavit stated.It is also alleged by BCCI that Sreesanth has not revealed in his petition that Delhi Police had filed an appeal against the sessions court's order before the Delhi high court and that it is still pending.The lifetime ban was imposed on Sreesanth on the allegation of spot-fixing in the 2013 edition of the Indian Premier League. Prior to the ban, BCCI had suspended him from the team and had ordered an enquiry following his arrest by Delhi police in May 2013.On July 25, 2015, an additional sessions court exonerated him and others from the charges that included offences under Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act ( MCOCA ).