PCA a public body: Info panel

[karira]

As reported by Anilesh S Mahajan of TNN in timesofindia.indiatimes.com on 22 August 2008:
PCA a public body: Info panel-Chandigarh-Cities-The Times of India

PCA a public body: Info panel

CHANDIGARH: There is no scope for confusion any longer whether Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) is a public or private body. The Punjab State Information Commission has declared it a public authority, which means that it is covered by the provisions of Right to Information Act, 2005.

In the case of Anil Kashyap, chief of Cricketers' Welfare Association versus PCA, the judgment on Thursday, held PCA a public authority under Section 2(h), RTI Act, 2005. However, the information commissioner, Lt Gen (retd) PK Grover, said as arguments were heard only on the question of status of PCA being a public authority, "I would like to give an opportunity to PCA authorities to raise any point on the merits of the demand for information with reference to the exemptions available under Section 8, RTI Act, 2005."

He has set September 11 as the date for further proceedings. Sources, however, term it a mere formality. This means that from now onwards anyone can ask PCA to provide any information available on its records. It is a welcome decision for activists fighting legal battles against PCA over getting prime land in Mohali for the stadium, having overage players play for Punjab team, rows over security and a host of other issues.

Terming it a moral victory for him as a cricket fan who wanted to see transparency in the system, Kashyap, an activist who contested the case against PCA at SIC, said: "Now they would be accountable."

Referring to the controversy over PCA allegedly allowing few overage players in its team, despite there being no dirth of talent in the state, Sarabjit Singh Kahlon, an RTI activist said: "Now they (people on top posts) cannot refuse information."

Sending a message to other state bodies including Board of Cricket Control in India, the judgment says PCA may not have been constituted by any notification of Punjab or Union government, but the government and its agencies have funded the association substantially.

PCA chief Inderjeet Singh Bindra told TOI, "I have to see the judgment before I comment on the issue." According to sources, PCA is mulling over the option of challenging the decision in Punjab and Haryana high court.
Following recent demands for transparent functioning of the association, PCA had closed the doors of public scrutiny terming itself a private association of like-minded people for developing cricket. The body also refused to pay the security bill raised by Punjab Police, calling itself a private body doing public functions. But in its (PCA) reply to CBI, Bindra called it a public body.

Meanwhile, Congress MLA from Bholath, Sukhpal Singh Khaira who is a party in one of the cases against PCA, said: "PCA is run by persons as if it is their private domain, now transparency will prevail."