The BCCI is preparing a policy to establish clearer boundaries around its Ombudsman’s authority over disputes involving state cricket associations, according to an exclusive report by Times of India.
The proposed framework follows objections raised during the Board’s Annual General Meeting in Mumbai last week, where members questioned whether complaints centred on local association affairs should reach the BCCI Ombudsman before state-level avenues have been exhausted.
State associations raise jurisdiction concerns
Representatives associated with the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association, Kerala Cricket Association, Baroda Cricket Association, Punjab Cricket Association and Odisha Cricket Association were among those who raised concerns at the AGM.
Their objections included the additional legal costs state associations can face when such complaints reach the Ombudsman. Members also maintained that local grievance-redressal processes should be completed before a matter progresses to the BCCI level.
The discussion additionally centred on whether issues primarily involving the internal functioning of individual state associations should fall within the Ombudsman’s remit.
BCCI plans clearer terms of reference
The planned framework would set out the categories of complaints the Ombudsman can consider, with particular attention to cases involving state associations.
A BCCI administrator who attended the AGM told Times of India: “The BCCI will frame a policy that will curb the Ombudsman’s interference in state-level matters. The board has decided to provide the Ombudsman with clear terms of reference when it comes to entertaining complaints related to state associations.”
The proposed policy would therefore formalize the boundaries governing which state-association matters can be taken up by the Ombudsman, following the concerns placed before the BCCI at its AGM.
