BCCI under fire for poor fund disbursal

The Supreme Court on Tuesday slammed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for turning into a “mutual benefit society” through inequitable disbursal of funds to states, affecting the development of cricket.

A bench of Chief Justice T S Thakur and F M I Kalifullah wondered why states like Bihar and Chhattisgarh go with begging bowls while others like Gujarat, Goa and Tripura got more funds.

As senior advocate K K Venugopal contended that the Justice R M Lodha panel recommendation of 'one state one vote' was not feasible, the bench asked if the BCCI's policy was to buy votes and influence the voting pattern.

“One gets an impression that you are practically corrupting the persons by not asking how the money is spent,” the bench observed.

Going through accounts on payments made to member states like Gujarat, Goa and Tripura, the bench asked, “Eleven (states) go begging for assistance. These 11 go without a penny. Huge amounts like Rs 572 crore is distributed every year. It may be over Rs 1000 crore next year. Should your system of disbursal not be perfect?” 
The court also asked why Bihar was discriminated against while Gujarat got over Rs 60 crore from BCCI in its capacity as a full member with voting right.

When Venugopal claimed that Bihar had refused to submit accounts, the bench countered why Goa, with just over 10 lakh population, got Rs 60 crore.

“Eleven States here have zeros against their names. Goa gets Rs 60 crore while Chhattisgarh gets Rs 1.47 crore. Your  mandate is to promote the game all over the country. The passion for the game is spread across the country,” the bench observed. 

During the hearing, the court also pointed out Railway Sports Promotion Board, a full member, did not get anything while Tripura with 25 lakh population got Rs 60 crore, though an international standard stadium was yet come up there.