BCCI Does Not Fall Under RTI Act - CIC

In a significant development related to Indian cricket administration, the Central Information Commission (CIC) has ruled that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) does not fall under the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The commission clarified that BCCI does not receive any direct government funding and therefore cannot be treated as a public authority under the RTI Act. The decision came while dismissing an appeal seeking details regarding the selection process of Indian cricket players and the authority under which BCCI represents Team India in national and international tournaments.

The ruling marks a reversal from the CIC’s 2018 stance, when the commission had considered BCCI a public authority by citing government support and the Indian team representing the nation in official tournaments. BCCI later challenged that decision in the Madras High Court, after which the Supreme Court directed the CIC to reconsider the matter in line with previous judicial observations. Following a fresh review, the CIC stated that BCCI was neither established through the Constitution, parliamentary legislation, state laws, nor government orders. Since it is registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act as a private society, the commission concluded that BCCI is not obligated to disclose information under the RTI Act.