India's Central Information Commission (CIC) has issued a notice to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and all its 29 affiliates to furnish details about assets in their possession like land and buildings, stadiums allotted by state governments, annual rent being paid by them and copies of lease deeds etc.
The CIC has summoned all related parties under Section 18 of the Right to Information Act, 2005, on a petition filed by Madhu Agrawal. A full bench of the CIC has been constituted to hear this case today and tomorrow in the capital.u00a0
In its notice dated, 10/7/13, CIC has directed BCCI and all its units to attend the hearing either personally or through authorised representatives. The CIC also instructed all parties concerned to provide information regarding income tax, customs duty, entertainment tax exemptions, if any, for the last five years from financial year 2007-2008.
Beside, the bench will also examine security expenses incurred by state governments for organising matches during this period. “I believe BCCI is a public authority as it enjoys many facilities provided by the central and state governments. These benefits includes land, tax exemptions, security arrangements etc. I have mentioned all this in my petition,” Agrawal was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.com on Monday.
According to Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, a public authority has to appoint an information officer and provide whatever information that the general public applies for. u00a0“Whatever is required regarding notices, will be done at an appropriate time. I can’t tell you more than that,” BCCI interim president Jagmohan Dalmiya told MiD DAY.
Utmost importance
Agrawal argued in her appeal that bringing the BCCI under RTI Act is of utmost national importance as the Board conducts cricket matches using the country’s name. At the same time they avail of the government’s resources to conduct these matches.
“This is a new case and we have sent a notice to BCCI and all its units. The question here is weather the BCCI is a public authority or not. CIC wants to check if BCCI is getting any government funding or not. That is why CIC has asked BCCI and its units to come up with details,” KL Dass, Deputy Registrar, CIC said.u00a0
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