Move seen as a major step towards transparency given BCCI, for a long time, has been resisting attempts to bring itself under RTI.
New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has disclosed the amount of taxes it paid for the period between 2004-05 and 2017-18 under the Right to Information Act, a move seen as a major step towards transparency by the wealthy sports body.
For a long time, the cricket board has been resisting attempts to bring itself under the ambit of the RTI Act.
According to the Central Information Commission (CIC), the BCCI paid Rs 52 crore in taxes in 2004-05.
The cash-rich cricket body paid taxes to the tune of Rs 439.78 crore and Rs 279.88 crore in 2016-17 and 2017-18 respectively.
How did it happen?
In September 2016, Omprakash Kashiram filed an application under the RTI Act with the CIC, seeking details on taxes paid by the BCCI from 26 January 1950 to 2016. Initially, the CIC rejected the application.
Later, deputy commissioner of income tax Abhay Marathe sought the approval of BCCI in the matter of furnishing details about the taxes the board has paid over the years.
During a hearing, CIC observed, “The commission observed that similar issues were adjudicated by the commission wherein the appellant (applicant) had sought information regarding the details about the income tax amount pending towards BCCI from the ministry of finance and in the said matter the commission allowed disclosure of information.”
In addition, CIC also stated that the matter involved larger public interest regarding payment of income tax by a body which administers, regulates and controls the game of cricket and is followed by a large number of cricketing fans all over the country.
Hence, the commission ruled in favour of the applicant and asked for relevant information on the matter.
The commission also observed that BCCI had claimed exemptions from income tax. However, the cricket body refuted those claims, saying that their entire income was taxable.
Law Commission’s observations on BCCI
For a very long time, the cricket board has been opposing the move to bring itself under the ambit of RTI Act, saying that it does not receive substantial central funds and the details of any payment made above Rs 25 lakh is furnished on its website. The cricket body also claimed that its audited accounts are shared on its website.
However, last month the Law Commission in its report said since BCCI falls under the definition of a public authority, which has received substantial funds from governments, it should be brought under the ambit of the RTI Act.
The Law Commission also observed that the BCCI’s role has been “as monopolistic in regulation of the game of cricket” and has “resulted in the Board flying under the radar of public scrutiny, and has encouraged an environment of opacity and non-accountability”.
The panel was also of the view that the BCCI virtually acts as a national sports federation and claimed that the uniform the Indian cricket team wears contains the national colours and their helmets display the Ashok Chakra.