Umpire Ravi quits RBI

After serving RBI for three decades, ICC Elite Panel Umpire quits in Controversial Circumstances, with the bank finding a loophole in the rules to deny him Leave and Promotion to the Officer Cadre

RBI playing by the 'words' in the rule book leaves a poor taste among the cricketing fraternity

Top ICC Elite Panel Umpire S Ravi (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2013/08/s-ravi-set-for-umpiring-test-debut.html) has quit RBI in quite controversial circumstances after serving the bank for three decades.

In June 2015, Ravi became the first Indian umpire after S Venkataraghavan to be inducted into the. ICC Elite Panel of umpires, a rare honour. And he has been there as one of the top Elite Panel Umpires ever since. 

Congrats note from Raghuram Rajan

Soon after the story on his induction into the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/06/ravi-to-umpire-ashes-series.html) in June 2015, the then Governor of the RBI Raghuram Rajan sent Ravi a personal congratulatory letter on his nomination into the prestigious Elite Panel. Following his inclusion into the Elite Panel, Ravi was permitted to go on EOL (Extraordinary Leave) without pay for 2 years, with support from the RBI Governor.

When Ravi’s contract was extended for a third year in a row in the ICC Elite Panel(http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/08/umpire-s-ravi.html) last year, Ravi requested for extension of his EOL and the bank sanctioned immediately, given his credentials and the glory he was bringing to the bank as one of the best umpires in the World. Last year, he was also included in the MCC Laws Sub Committee, a significant achievement for an Indian umpire (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/08/umpire-s-ravi.html).

In May this year, following his terrific performance over the last three years, the ICC extended his contract in the Elite Panel for another year. This year, Ravi became the second most capped Indian Umpire after Venkataraghavan, going past VK Ramaswamy.

Playing by the Rule Bank 

Much to his shock, the RBI rejected Ravi’s request for EOL without assigning any reason. Despite Ravi being a top umpire in the ICC Panel through this decade and an Elite Panel umpire for more than three years now, he was also not promoted as an Officer, which should have been an automatic deal for a staffer with such an achievement in the sporting field. However, the bank found a loophole in the system to deny him the promotion to the officer rank.

Sources within the RBI say the rules pertaining to EOL and promotions deal with ‘players’ and that Ravi as an umpire

(even if he was the best in the World) did not fall within the definition of ‘players’ and hence both his leave (EOL) as well as his promotion to Officer’s Cadre was rejected this year.

Ravi even tried representing his case with the Governor of the RBI but to no avail.  

Finally with leave not granted and having to decide between RBI and Umpiring on the Elite Panel, Ravi decided to put in his papers and has now officially resigned from the RBI, his employer for three decades.

At a crucial decision making time, RBI chose to go strictly by the words in the rule book. It would have been in the spirit of things to have included match officials within the definition of players. But the Bank stood firm to play by the dictionary definition of 'Players'.

Ravi had always enjoyed extremely close friendship with his team mates even as a youngster much before the current glory of an international umpire. He was a favourite with most of the team members, especially for his knowledge of the laws of the game. It was always Ravi’s plan to continue at RBI till the end of his career. But the sudden turn of events has forced him to quit the bank that gave the foundation and career security early on in his life.

A With RBI and its Governor the cynosure of all eyes in the recent past with the financial issues relating to the NBFCs, this resignation of the world’s top umpire from their services is another black mark on the bank. And leaves a poor taste among the cricketing fraternity, especially in a year when a couple of the top cricketers have been directly given an Officer's posting at the bank with very minimal working presence.