The Central Information Commission (CIC) ruled that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) cannot be classified as a public authority under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
Information Commissioner P R Ramesh said the BCCI is neither owned, controlled, nor substantially financed by the government.
The order dismissed an appeal seeking details about the authority under which the BCCI represents India and selects players for international tournaments. Ramesh noted that the BCCI functions as a private autonomous body registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act and does not meet the statutory requirements under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act.
The ruling closes a jurisdictional battle that began in 2018 when former Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu declared the BCCI a public authority and directed it to appoint Public Information Officers. The BCCI challenged that decision before the Madras High Court, which later remitted the matter back to the CIC for fresh adjudication.
In its latest order, the Commission examined the BCCI’s financial structure and relationship with the government. It concluded that the Board operates independently, generating revenue through media rights, sponsorships, broadcasting deals, and ticket sales. The CIC clarified that tax exemptions or statutory concessions cannot be treated as substantial government financing.
The case stemmed from an RTI application questioning the legal basis for the BCCI’s role in representing India in cricket despite being a private body.
