COA urges state associations to send compliance report with March 1st deadline

The Committee of Administrators (COA), appointed by the Supreme Court following the dissolution of Anurag Thakur-led BCCI working committee, has directed the state associations to submit a compliance report fulfilling the Lodha Committee directives by March 1, 2017. The state associations have been direct to take actions based on “strict understanding and interpretation” of Lodha Committee recommendations like 70 years age cap, nine-year incumbent period, amongst others.

The COA send strong signals to the state office bearers by stating, “You are also called upon to obtain undertakings from your current office bearers and members to the effect that they are not disqualified in terms of the criteria and forward copies of the same to the Committee of Administrators. This should be done latest by 5 pm on March 1, 2017,” in a communication to all the state associations, including the Cricket Association of Bengal, which is currently headed by former India captain, Sourav Ganguly, who is ineligible to continue in the office according to Lodha Committee.

A copy of the letter, available with PTI, suggested that the name of office bearers be mentioned in websites, as part of good governance and transparency measures. The letter stated, “The names of your current office bearers along with their age, the date on which they assumed office and/or became a member of your Governing Body/Managing Committee/Working Committee and the total number of years for which they have been an office-bearer.”

Regarding the disbursement of funds by BCCI, the Supreme Court had directed on its orders on October 7 and October 21 that BCCI shall forthwith cease and desist from making any disbursement of funds for any purpose whatsoever to any State Association until and unless they adopt a resolution undertaking to implement the Lodha Committee reforms.

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“After such a resolution is passed and before any disbursement of funds takes place to the State Association concerned, a copy of the resolution shall be filed with the Lodha Committee and before the Supreme Court together with an affidavit of the President of the State Association undertaking to abide by the reforms,” the letter said, which would mean that actions undertaken will have to be documented and the authorities have to give the green signal before state associations can act on their own.

“You’re called upon to confirm whether you have completed the compliances. In the event you have done so, you are called upon to forward copies of the resolution(s) and affidavit(s),” ascertaining on the March 1 deadline.