CIC Decides BCCI Not Covered Under RTI Act

The Central Information Commission has ruled that the BCCI is not a public authority under the RTI Act, exempting it from transparency obligations. Despite its prominent public role in cricket, the BCCI remains a private entity, independently managed and financed, separate from government control or funding.

The Central Information Commission (CIC) ruled on Monday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is not a public authority under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, thus it is exempt from answering queries under the transparency law.

Information Commissioner P R Ramesh stated that although the BCCI performs significant public functions in cricket administration and representation at international tournaments, it doesn't meet the criteria for public authority classification, being neither owned, controlled, nor funded substantially by the government.

The CIC's decision overturns a 2018 order by former commissioner and law professor M Sridhar Acharyulu, highlighting the distinction between public interest functions and government-controlled bodies under India's RTI framework.