Basics About BCCI:
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the national governing body for cricket in India. The board was formed in December 1928 as a society. It is a consortium of state cricket associations and the state associations select their representatives who in turn elect the BCCI officials. BCCI does not depend on the Government for its finances.
SC decisions:
- The Supreme Court has appointed former Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Vinod Rai as head of four-member Committee of Administrators to run Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
- Committee of Administrators’ first task will be to find out how much the BCCI has complied with the recommendations made by the
- Declined Centre’s request to appoint Secretary of Sports Ministry as the member of the committee. It referred to its earlier judgement debarring Ministers and Government servants from holding office in BCCI.
- In its earlier order of January 2, 2017 the Supreme Court had removed Anurag Thakur as BCCI president, Ajay Shirke as BCCI secretary and disqualified all the board and its state association office bearers after they had failed to implement new norms set by the Justice Lodha Committee
The recent Supreme Court judgement for Institutional integrity from BCCI and classifying it as a Public functionary will advance public accountability in all the sports bodies in India. In the light of the verdict discuss the problems faced by the sports sector . Also suggest the solutions for the same. (200 Words)
Ans: Supreme court’s judgment increases accountability of private entities which are working as public entities.
Cricket has become business since start IPL, ICL and other championships. BCCI registered under Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act controls cricket in India and Indian cricket at abroad delivering public service with highest sports viewership in India. But, it is self-governed without any public accountability because Article 12 of Indian constitution can’t subscribe to such organisations.
India recently lost its membership from international Olympics committee because rules of Olympics Association of India were ultra-vires to IOC. Similar crisis in Hockey Association, Boxing Federation, and Football are mushrooming on same grounds of non-public scrutiny under Article 12. We don’t have any National Sport because of such inconsistency in management of Sports fraternity in India. GOI of do not control any of sport which is relevant to Olympics.
SC’s judgment that all institutions though not “state” under Article 12 of the Indian constitution, but providing, earning or governing activities which are directly related to public or state comes under purview of Article 226 of the Indian Constitution is laudable.
Solutions:
- Bring sports entities under RTI and Lokpal or Lokayukta
- Parliament must enact law regarding governance of Sports Authorities
- TRAI must regulate and notify rules for advertisement and telecasts of Sports in India
- Service Tax and Education cess should be levied on earning of sports Authorities.
With over billion populations India starves for a single Gold Medal from Olympics, in long term this landmark judgement will change profile of Indian sports.