Why need RTI’ BCCI the target for poor effort at transparency
Indian cricket officials are confident the government is unlikely to force the sports body to adopt the rule
The BCCI has no role in this matter. It’s a recommendation by the Law Commission and we will wait for the government’s decision on it.
changed only for the BCCI. It will affect many organisations ,” said Shah.
Shah said bringing BCCI under the purview of the RTI Act “will lead to straight interference/.”
“...there will be pressure put on selection matters by asking why so and so was not selected,” he said.
While the BCCI doesn’t receive funding from the government, the Law Commission seems to have taken into account that there are indirect benefits like getting land at subsidised rates for construction of facilities like stadiums and cricket academies, and relief being granted in income tax.
Shah said the BCCI and its associations have stopped taking indirect benefits. “Now every association is buying land to construct its stadiums.
“The Saurashtra Cricket Association has paid for the land (for a stadium) and also paid all taxes,” said Shah, a former secretary of the association.
“They are charging income tax to the BCCI and associations as well. It is up to Parliament to decide, let the government first debate over it. We have paid almost ~2,000 crore in income tax,” said the BCCI office-bearer cited above.
Stanley Saldhana, a former BCCI manager for games development, also said the RTI was not a solution. “It will unnecessarily get into the way of functioning.
“It can be done with the right people at the right places. If the system is not in place, what is RTI going to do,” he asked.