BCCI is Not a Government Entity

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has ruled that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is not considered a “public authority” under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. This means BCCI does not fall under RTI regulations.

The CIC explained that BCCI is neither owned nor controlled by the government, and it is not “substantially financed” by public funds. The decision came after an appeal was dismissed regarding BCCI’s status as a public authority responsible for selecting players and organizing cricket tournaments.

In his ruling, Indian Commissioner PR Ramesh stated: “BCCI cannot be classified as a ‘Public Authority’ under the RTI Act.” He added that BCCI is a private organization registered under Tamil Nadu laws, governed by its own rules and regulations independent of government involvement.

This decision ends a legal battle that began in 2018. A former Information Commissioner had earlier ruled that BCCI should be treated as a public authority and directed it to appoint Public Information Officers. However, the BCCI challenged this in court, leading to further reviews by the CIC.

The Commission concluded that the government has no control over BCCI’s finances or operations. The board is managed by its own members through an elected committee, with no government representation or influence.

BCCI operates independently, earning revenue from events like the Indian Premier League (IPL) and sponsorship deals. It also conducts domestic cricket tournaments without direct government funding or oversight.