Indian
Express: Chennai: Wednesday, 18 November 2015.
In another
blow to the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association’s chances of hosting the
fourth between India and South Africa from December 3-7, the three-member probe
committee constituted by the Delhi government has sought suspension of the state
body by the BCCI.
According to
the report of the committee, BCCI has been asked to suspend the beleaguered
body with immediate effect. Also, the committee has recommended that since DDCA
is a public body, it should come under Right to Information Act.
“It’s a body
that is discharging public function, so it should come under RTI,” sports
lawyer Rahul Mehra, one of the members on the panel, told Express on Tuesday.
The panel was headed by Chetan B Sanghi, principal secretary PWD (urban
development & vigilance) with Punya Salil Srivastava, secretary
(Education/Sports) as the other member.
Mehra made
another interesting point that despite being requested to take action against
DDCA, the BCCI is yet to respond. “I personally spoke to Mr (Shashank) Manohar
and told him what’s happening in the DDCA. I also asked him why BCCI is not
acting against the DDCA. In fact, Manohar told me DDCA is perhaps one of the
worst run body, if not the worst, and he would do everything to revive it.
“Manohar gave
us assurances, but no action was taken against DDCA. I even asked him why is it
that the BCCI is not acting against them, after several agencies found
irregularities in their functioning. He said he did not have the powers to act.
However, after going through the BCCI constitution, I see a sub-clause that
states president has the power to suspend a body if there are serious
allegations and reconstitute it within six month. I don’t know why he is not
doing it,” said Mehra.
HC Verdict
Awaited
Interestingly,
late on Tuesday, instead of sticking to the deadline of November 17, the BCCI
decided to wait for the Delhi High Court verdict on the Test. DDCA has
approached the court, seeking directive on South Delhi Municipal Corporation
(SDMC) to issue a provisional occupancy certificate (POC) to hold the Test at
Feroz Shah Kotla stadium. DDCA has sought POC from December 1 to 10. The matter
was adjourned till Wednesday. “As the matter is pending for decision on
Wednesday, the BCCI will wait for the court’s decision,” said a statement.
Mehra went on
to say there are not just allegations of corruptions, but also criminal charges
of omission and commission. “The CBI also has charges against them, there are
FIRs,” he said. “There is a division within the DDCA. We called some 37 members
to appear before us. Only 13 came. We have suggested a commission of inquiry
against DDCA. We have also recommended to Delhi government to approach the
Supreme Court and request Justice Lodha Committee to recommend changes or
restructure their administrative setup.
“DDCA gets
around Rs40-50 crore from the BCCI but spends a negligible amount on grassroots
programmes. There is no state academy in Delhi,” said Mehra. Barring a miracle,
the fate of Delhi hosting Test seems doomed.
How Things
Unravelled
October 26:
Delhi Government slaps DDCA with a notice of Rs24 crore for non-payment of
entertainment tax for the last several years. There is also preliminary enquiry by
CBI after complaints of alleged misappropriation of funds.
November 7:
DDCA appoints VP Chetan Chauhan as working president, withdraws powers of
incumbent Sneh Bansal.
November 9:
BCCI sets a deadline of November 17 for the DDCA to get government clearances
and put things in place for the fourth India-SA Test to start on December 3.
November 10:
DDCA manages to get its balance sheet for the last three years signed by its
directors and sends it to BCCI. Bishan Singh Bedi and Kirti Azad meet Arvind
Kejriwal and request him to intervene in “cleaning up” the DDCA.
November 12:
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal sets up a three-member panel to probe DDCA
irregularities. Kejriwal asks the sports secretary to submit the report within
two days.
November 17:
Delhi Govt probe committee favours suspension of DDCA by BCCI for alleged
irregularities in its functioning. It also recommends appointing a professional
body of cricketers to run DDCA
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