BCCI not a public authority, doesn't fall under RTI: CIC

Mumbai: Reversing its 2018 stance, the Central Information Commission (CIC) has ruled that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) doesn't fall under the Right to Information Act, holding that the cricket board cannot be treated as a "public authority".

The ruling implies BCCI is not legally obligated to respond to RTI applications unless the government explicitly brings it within the RTI framework through legislation or notification.

The order was passed by information commissioner PR Ramesh in the case of Geeta Rani vs ministry of youth affairs & sports and BCCI.


In 2017, Geeta Rani filed an RTI application seeking details on the authority under which BCCI represents India, selects players and why governments provide stadiums, security and infrastructure for cricket tournaments. She also questioned whether the government exercises legal control over BCCI.

The sports ministry replied that the information sought was not available with it, and that BCCI was not a declared public authority, meaning the RTI application could not be transferred to the cricket board. Dissatisfied with the response, Rani filed subsequent appeals before the CIC.

In an October 2018 order, CIC had ruled that BCCI was a public authority under the RTI Act and directed it to appoint public information officers and disclose information.