The world?s richest and most powerful cricket board is being sued. By one of its franchisees, no less. The Rajasthan Royals has filed a suit against the BCCI claiming losses amounting to a whopping Rs 120 crore for damage to its reputation, sponsors and legal fees. The BCCI made a royal mess of things by cancelling franchise agreements with two teams (sussed to have links with erstwhile IPL chief, Modi) on grounds of financial irregularities. The Bombay High Court, however, ruled in favour of the teams, reinstating them with the ruling that the termination of contracts ?was anything but fair and was wholly arbitrary.?
Though most believe BCCI is an arm of the government, given how it selects the national team, the courts have ruled this isn?t so. BCCI, however, is covered under the Right to Information Act and is, in that sense, a quasi-government body. Any which way, that this influential quasi-government body has been challenged in court for its underarm bowling is a positive sign. If the decisions of one of the most powerful governing bodies in the country can be subject to public scrutiny via the courts, what?s stopping the rest from being challenged in much the same fashion? May prove to be a blessing in disguise for the transparency in the public domain that?s so desperately being sought.