By using public property at subsidised rates, DDCA automatically becomes public authority

03 December, 2012

If DDCA does not want to be accountable as public-authority under Right To Information Act, it should return the land and other facilities provided by the government.

THIS REFERS to the affidavit filed by Deputy Land & Development Officer filed before Central Information Commission in respect of appeal-number CIC/LS/A/2012/000714 against Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) wherein the deponent has clearly stated that Land & Development Office will have control through three government-nominees in the managing-committee of DDCA, and also the latter cannot change character of the association without approval of the government.

Otherwise also, allotment of huge piece of prime land in the heart of capital city of India at a nominal annual license fees of just rupees Rs 5500 per acre to DDCA is definitely government-funding.

If DDCA does not want to be accountable as public-authority under Right To Information Act, it should return the land and other facilities by the government. Otherwise there are sufficient grounds that super-rich cricket-body may be declared as public-authority under RTI Act for being controlled and funded by the government as is clear from the affidavit filed on behalf of Land & Development Office (Union Ministry of Urban Development).

As a principle anybody getting allotment/ lease etc of government-land and/or building should automatically be taken as public-authority under RTI Act to be accountable to public for using public-property at concessional/ subsidized rates.