BCCI must be under RTI just like other sports bodies: Law Commission

New Delhi, April 18 - The Law Commission of India has recommended that the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) should come under the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act just as other national sports bodies do,

The Law Commission underlined that "even if BCCI is continued to be regarded as a private body", but owing to its "monopolistic character coupled with the public nature of its functions and the substantial financing it has received from governments over the years (in the form of tax exemptions, land grants et al), it can within the existing legal framework, still be termed as a ‘public authority' and be brought within the purview of RTI Act".

It also pointed out that the uniform of the players of the Indian cricket team (as selected by the BCCI) contains the national colours and their helmets display the Ashok Chakra.

Besides, it said, the Supreme Court has recently reaffirmed that BCCI is the "approved" national level body holding virtually monopoly rights to organise cricketing events in the country.

The report has recommended that the BCCI "be viewed as an agency or instrumentality of state, under Article 12 of the Constitution, thereby making it amenable to the writ jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under Article 12".

"Additionally, it is recommended that RTI Act be made applicable to BCCI along with all of its constituent member cricketing associations, provided they fulfil the criteria applicable to BCCI, as discussed in this report," it added.

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IANS