Finance Committee finds no mention in new BCCI constitution

Confirming that the draft for the new constitution had been prepared, the CoA chairman Vinod Rai said the Finance Committee would cease to “exist” once the new framework for the Board's functioning was adopted.

Vinod Rai: "“Please note that the Finance Committee does not find mention in the list of committees included in the draft BCCI Constitution that is in line with the recommendations of Justice Lodha Committee."

The Committee of Administrators (CoA) has made it clear that the Board's new Constitution will not have a slot for the Finance Committee.

Confirming that the draft for the new constitution had been prepared, the CoA chairman Vinod Rai said the Finance Committee would cease to “exist” once the new framework for the Board's functioning was adopted. The CoA is set to submit the draft to the Supreme Court on September 19.

In a mail that conveyed the CoA's displeasure on the Finance Committee chairman Jyotiraditya Scindia questioning the former's role, Rai came up with an 11-point rebuttal.

Scindia had left the meeting on Thursday midway wanting to know the role of the committee. He had reportedly asked Board CEO Rahul Johri to clarify the issue with CoA.

The Board treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry had sought clarification from the CoA, “Whether all decisions that have financial implications on the BCCI have to go through the process of elilciting the view of the Finance Committee prior to being ultimately decided by the CoA/Working Committee/CEO etc? There exists some confusion with regard to the mandate of the Finance Committee in the present scheme of things and the CoA is requested to kindly enlighten the Finance Committee on this matter.”

Rai responded, “Please note that the Finance Committee does not find mention in the list of committees included in the draft BCCI Constitution that is in line with the recommendations of Justice Lodha Committee (as accepted by the Supreme Court). Accordingly, the above position will continue only until the new BCCI Constitution, as per reforms mandated by the Supreme Court, is adopted."

The CoA continued, “The decisions taken at the level of the treasurer have been placed before the Finance Committee for them to merely take note. Therefore, there is no occasion for any 'confusion with regard' to mandate of the Finance Committee.”

Rai added, “Therefore the Committee of Administrators is not obliged to elicit the views of the Finance Committee on every decision, which may have financial implications on the BCCI, but may choose to refer specific issues/matters to elicit the views of the Finance Committee where the Committee of Administrators considers necessary.”