The Law Commission has recommended that the Board of Control for Cricket in India ( BCCI ) along with its constituent member cricketing associations be covered under the Right to Information ( RTI ) Act.The Commission, headed by Justice (retd) B S Chauhan, has held that BCCI exercises state-like powers affecting the fundamental rights of the stakeholders, guaranteed under Part III of the Constitution. The constituent member cricketing associations could also be covered under the RTI Act “provided they fulfil the criteria applicable to BCCI”.The Supreme Court had referred the contentious matter to the Commission for consideration. “The uniform of the players of the Indian team (as selected by BCCI) contains the national colours and their helmets display the Ashok Chakra. This express mention, the Commission has held, would automatically bring BCCI within the purview of RTI Act, it says.The report says that since other NSFs are covered under the RTI Act it is “inconceivable as to why BCCI should be an exception”.The Commission concluded that BCCI ought to be classified as “state” within the meaning of Article 12 of the Constitution. It may also be noted here that from 2007-2008 onwards, the registration of BCCI under section 12A of the Income Tax Act, 1961,as a charitable trust, was withdrawn.”

Source: Economic Times April 18, 2018 21:56 UTC