CIC Rules BCCI Outside RTI Act, Revives Debate Over Richest Cricket Board’s Charitable Status. The Central Information Commission has ruled that the BCCI does not fall under the Right to Information Act. The decision overturns the CIC’s 2018 order, which had brought the cricket board under RTI scrutiny.
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CIC Explains Legal Position
Information Commissioner P R Ramesh held that the BCCI cannot be treated as a “public authority” under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act. The ruling came in an appeal linked to a 2017 RTI application filed before the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The applicant had sought details about the legal basis under which the BCCI represents India in cricket. The plea also questioned how the board selects players for national and international tournaments.
The CIC said the BCCI is not a constitutional body, Parliament, or any state legislature. It also found no substantial government control or financing over the board’s administration. The Commission noted that the BCCI is registered as a society under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act. This means the board is not required to answer RTI queries like government departments or statutory bodies do.
Richest Board, Charitable Status Debate
The ruling has revived debate over the BCCI’s legal and financial status. The board is widely considered the richest cricket board in the world. It earns huge revenue from media rights, sponsorships, tournaments, and the Indian Premier League. However, the BCCI has historically claimed charitable or non-profit status under tax law. Critics argue this creates a contradiction between its commercial power and its position as a non-governmental body.
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The CIC also warned that imposing government-style control could disturb the board’s “finely balanced” economic structure. This observation strengthened the BCCI’s argument that it remains an autonomous sports body. Supporters of the ruling say the BCCI does not receive substantial government funding. Critics say it performs public functions by controlling Indian cricket and selecting national teams. For now, citizens cannot directly use RTI applications to seek information from the BCCI. However, the debate over transparency in Indian cricket is likely to continue.