BCCI to seek legal opinion on CEO Rahul Johri’s increment

Under pressure for awarding the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) CEO Rahul Johri an “out of turn” increment, the Committee of Administrators (COA) on Tuesday decided to refer the matter to amicus curiae for legal opinion. 

The “out of turn” increment is in violation of the conditions agreed upon in the contract and the COA has approached Gopal Subramanium for legal opinion. 

DNA in its January 30th edition wrote about how COA had agreed to raise Johri’s salary, with effect from April 1, 2017, even before the completion of his full year. This was done despite objection raised by BCCI treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry in his letter addressed to COA chief Vinod Rai. Chaudhry mentioned that “CEO contract clearly mentions that 0.5 per cent of the incremental income to BCCI out of the efforts of the executives up to a maximum of Rs 1 crore in the first year was to have been the increment”. 

And in Johri’s case, a flat 15 per cent of the increment was given by COA despite the fact that the contract doesn’t provide for any such increase. To top it all, Johri was given an increment on April, 2017 despite the fact that it was due in June.

“The COA has asked for amicus curiae’s opinion with regards to Johri’s salary. A legal opinion has been sought but at this moment, we won’t be able to divulge the details,” a BCCI official said after the COA meeting on Tuesday.
It has been reliably learnt that Rai referred the matter to amicus curiae despite the objection of a section of BCCI officials who were keen on taking advice from BCCI’s legal team, rather than Subramanium.

“The BCCI has a big legal team. And when a huge sum is being paid to this team, why seek opinion of amicus curiae whose job is just to help the Supreme Court,” said a senior official. 

Tuesday meeting also discussed annual contracts of the Indian players. There is likelihood that new contracts will be announced soon after some more consultation. 

Rahul Dravid’s demand to give equal cash reward to his entire Under-19 support staff was also discussed.

Last but not the least, COA has also decided to file 7th Status Report in the Supreme Court before the next date of hearing, which is yet to be announced. And no guesses over the content of this report. COA would reiterate its earlier demand of removing all three officer bearers — acting president CK Khanna, acting secretary Amitabh Chaudhary and treasurer Chaudhry — for their failure to help implementing Justice Lodha panel recommendations.