CIC adjourns BCCI hearing

New Delhi, July 25 (IANS) The Central Information Commission (CIC) Thursday had to adjourn the hearing on declaring the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as a public authority under RTI Act after the board got a stay order from the Madras High Court.

BCCI counsel Radha Rangaswamy told IANS that the board had secured the stay order from Madras High Court Wednesday and the next hearing is slated for Aug 20.
“The issue raised by the petitioner requires to be considered taking into account the provisions of the Right to Information Act and rules made thereunder including the Rules framed by the Commission. In view of the same, taking into account the larger issue raised by the petitioner, issue notice to the respondents returnable by 20.8.2013. Private notice is permitted. There shall be an order of interim stay of all further proceedings, pursuant to the impugned order in the meantime,” the Madras High Court said in its order.
The CIC had issued notice to the BCCI and all its affiliates to bring along with them details of land, buildings and stadiums allotted by the state governments, among others.
The CIC had also asked the Board to produce Income Tax exemptions received by it.
“Matter of bringing BCCI under purview of RTI Act is of utmost national importance when BCCI conducts cricket matches with teams controlled by it named as ‘Indian team’ getting all types of recognition and facilities from Union and state governments,” RTI applicant Madhu Agrawal had pleaded before the Commission.