SIC summons LDA, BBD, sports directorate officials

LUCKNOW: State information commissioner Hafiz Usman has summoned officials concerned of the LDA, Sports Directorate and the Babu Banarasi Das Badminton Academy for not providing necessary information to an RTI applicant regarding irregularities in the academy.

Usman has directed the senior superintendent of police to ensure the presence of the officials concerned on November 22, the next date of hearing.

The SIC passed the order earlier this week on an appeal filed by Mohammad Aslam Siddiqui.

To note, Siddiqui had earlier filed an RTI application, seeking details of officials responsible for irregularities in the Badminton Academy.

When he failed to get any information from the LDA and the Sports Directorate, he filed an appeal with the state information commission. “Officials of the LDA and the Sports Directorate are trying to shelve their responsibilities to cover up largescale irregularities in the BBD Badminton Academy, including renting out the facility for commercial and private events,” said Usman. “I have directed the SSP to ensure presence of LDA, Sports Directorate and LDA officials at the next hearing of the case on November 22,” he said.

The SIC passed the order when the LDA and officials of the Sports Directorate failed to provide any information to the RTI applicant, even after subsequent notices.

It may be pointed out that the LDA had given the land on a 90-year lease to the Badminton Academy at an annual lease of Rs 1 per annum with a condition that the sports facility would not be used for any commercial activity.

The Sports Directorate had made the payment of Rs 1.02 crore to the LDA for leasing out the 10-acre land for construction of the Badminton Academy.

However, in violation of the lease agreement, the Badminton Academy is often rented out for private events, including marriage functions.