SC says CAG nominee in BCCI to bring financial transparency

The Supreme Court today agreed with Justice R M Lodha Committee's recommendation to include a nominee of CAG as a member of BCCI, saying it would bring in transparency and financial oversight into the affairs of the national governing body for cricket.
Apart from a CAG nominee in BCCI's Apex Council, which would govern the body, a bench of Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justice F M I Kalifulla also endorsed inclusion of an Accountant General of the state in the governing body of the state cricket associations as was recommended by the Lodha committee in its report.
"It is evident from a careful reading of the Report that the object underlying the induction of the nominees of the Accountant General of the state and the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) is to bring transparency and financial oversight into the affairs of the State Associations and BCCI.

"No one can possibly argue that the object sought to be achieved by the proposed nominations is not laudable or at least desirable," the court said, adding, "Transparency and financial discipline and accountability are fundamental values to which any authority discharging public functions must be committed to."
While upholding recommendations of the panel, the bench brushed aside the objection of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that inclusion of these officials at the state level and in the national cricket governing body would amount to government interference leading to its derecognition by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
It said there was "no basis" for that argument that a measure taken to streamline BCCI's working and ensuring its financial discipline and transparency, may be seen as governmental interference calling for suspension of the Board.

"Far from finding fault with presence of a nominee of the Accountant General of the State and CAG, the ICC would in our opinion appreciate any such step for the same would prevent misgivings about the working of BCCI especially in relation to management of its funds and bring transparency and objectivity necessary to inspire public confidence in the fairness and the effective management of the affairs of BCCI and the state associations," it said while accepting Lodha Committee's major recommendations on reforms in BCCI.