By Soniya:
The Central Information Commission (CIC) has ruled that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is not a “public authority” under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005. The order was issued by Information Commissioner P. R. Ramesh on 18 May 2026 during a hearing related to BCCI’s role in representing India in international cricket and selecting players.
The CIC stated that BCCI is a private autonomous body registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act and was not created by the Constitution, Parliament, state legislature, or government notification. It further observed that BCCI is neither owned, controlled, nor substantially financed by the government.
The ruling reverses a 2018 CIC order which had earlier declared BCCI a public authority under the RTI Act. However, the Madras High Court later sent the matter back to the CIC for fresh examination after BCCI challenged the earlier decision.
The commission also clarified that tax exemptions and legal concessions provided to sports bodies do not amount to “substantial financing” under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act.
The judgment is significant for sports governance in India, especially as debates continue over transparency and accountability in cricket administration.
