The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has assured the Bombay High Court that it will clear outstanding payments to the police commissioners of Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Pimpri Chinchwad for providing security during cricket matches. The amounts owed are Rs 1.03 crore, Rs 3.30 crore and Rs 1.70 crore respectively.
The BCCI’s assurance came in an affidavit filed in response to a PIL by RTI activist Anil Galgali. The PIL, filed through advocate VT Dube, challenged the Maharashtra government’s June 2023 decision to reduce the rate fixed for police protection provided to the Indian Premier League (IPL), T-20 cricket matches and other matches with a retrospective effect from the year 2011. He contended that this would reduce the pending arrears.
In its affidavit, BCCI stated: “This Respondent undertakes to this Hon’ble Court to pay the said amounts to the respective authorities within two weeks from the date of this Affidavit.” It said it was committed towards making all payments that may be owed by it to the authorities. “The BCCI has no intention of depriving the police of the amount owed to them and undertakes to make the payment of the disputed amount not later than 90 days of the reconciliation of the accounts with the concerned police authorities,” the affidavit added.
The BCCI said it only incurs liability for qualifiers, eliminators and final matches of the IPL, womens’ premier league matches and any match that is conducted in exceptional circumstances. It further said that the question of how much charges should be levied for police protection for cricket matches was a policy decision. Also, it claimed it has no role in determining the adequacy of police personnel deployed during matches and that such decisions are within the purview of the police.
The cricket body underscored that Maharashtra’s charges were comparatively higher than those levied in other states, leading to a rationalization through a circular issued on June 26, 2023.
A bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar has kept the matter for hearing on February 11.
Capacities of the major stadiums in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai:
Wankhede Stadium: 33,108 seats.
Brabourne Stadium: 17,000 seats.
DY Patil Stadium: 27,000 seats.
State/City Stadium Capacity (appx) Charges
Hyderabad 39,200 Rs 21 lakh
Jaipur 23,185 Rs 20 lakhs
Mohali 40,000 Rs 20 lakhs
Dharmshala 25,000 Rs 15 lakhs
Delhi 55,200 Rs 11 lakhs
Kolkata 80,000 Rs 12.50 lakhs
Ahmedabad 1,32,000 Rs 47 lakhs (average of last three years)