BCCI Not a Public Authority Under RTI Act

The Central Information Commission (CIC) ruled on 18 May 2026 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 passed by Information Commissioner P. R. Ramesh in an appeal concerning the BCCI’s role in representing India and selecting players for tournaments.

RTI Act and Public Authority

The RTI Act, 2005 applies to public authorities, which include bodies owned, controlled, or substantially financed by the government. Section 2(h) of the RTI Act defines a public authority as an institution established or constituted by the Constitution, a law made by Parliament or a State Legislature, or a government notification.

BCCI’s Legal Status

The CIC held that the BCCI is a private autonomous body registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act. The commission stated that the BCCI was not established by the Constitution, Parliament, a State Legislature, or a government notification. The order also stated that the BCCI is neither owned, controlled, nor substantially financed by the government.

Earlier Orders and Court Proceedings

The ruling reversed an October 2018 order in which then Information Commissioner M. Sridhar Acharyulu had held the BCCI to be a public authority under the RTI Act. In September 2025, the Madras High Court remitted the matter to the CIC for fresh adjudication after the BCCI challenged the 2018 order.

Substantial Financing Under RTI

The CIC stated that tax exemptions and statutory concessions available under law do not amount to substantial financing under the RTI Act. The commission also noted that the Supreme Court had not declared the BCCI a public authority under the RTI Act.

Sports Governance and RTI

The Union government dropped plans to bring sports bodies like the BCCI within the RTI ambit by amending the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, to include only government-funded bodies. The BCCI is the national cricket governing body in India and is registered as a society under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act.

Important Facts for Exams

• The RTI Act, 2005 applies to public authorities defined under Section 2(h).
• The CIC is the statutory appellate body for matters under the RTI Act.
• The BCCI is registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act.
• The Madras High Court is a constitutional court with jurisdiction over Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.