The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to show how a sum of Rs 480 crore spent every year on development of cricket was utilised by State cricket associations to achieve this end.
The Board, which has an operational annual budget of Rs 754.5 crore, informed the apex court that it was averse to the suggestion made by the apex court-appointed Justice RM lodha panel of not running advertisements when the play was on. Senior advocate KK Venugopal, appearing for BCCI, submitted that it was due to ads that the Board had managed to strike a good deal in selling broadcast rights in return of a whopping Rs 3,851 crore. Of this money, the Board runs its budget with a major chunk received by State associations (Rs 480.23 crore) to develop the game of cricket.
The Bench of Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justice FM Ibrahim Kalifulla said, “We are wondering that in one year if Rs 480 crore is spent, how much money would have been spent in the past two decades and what development of cricket has actually taken place. There has to be some accountability.”
Venugopal agreed to file an affidavit giving these details before March 18, next date of hearing and sought similar information to be provided by State cricket associations as well.
The bench while hearing a point-by-point rebuttal by BCCI terming ten suggestions of the lodha panel as unworkable, failed to reconcile arguments by BCCI in having no reservation on Ministers and Government servants joining the cricket body while denying permission to a nominee of Comptroller and Auditor General in the same place.
For CAG nominee, the Board cited ICC Rules which prohibit “interference” from government but for Ministers and government servants, the Board banked on their vast experience and wisdom, essential to give leadership to the cricket body.