Times
of India: Hyderabad: Saturday, 30 May 2015.
Giving a
fresh twist to the raging RTI war between the Hyderabad Cricket Association
(HCA) and Andhra Pradesh Information Commission (APIC), the former has now
dismissed an order issued by the latter as "bogus" and
"absurd".
The order,
dispatched on May 25, categorically states that the association falls under the
ambit of the Right to Information Act, 2005 - thus putting an end to more than
a year-long battle between the two parties. The HCA, however, has refused to
fall in line.
In fact, when
contacted, HCA president, Arshad Ayub, denied even receiving a copy of the
order. "We have not got any directive from the APIC.It is clearly a prank
being played by someone. The order is bogus and manipu lated," Ayub said.
This, even as TOI accessed a copy of the same from the Infor mation Com
missioner's office. In the `Show Cause Notice Order' - which faults HCA for not
furnishing information to an RTI applicant - state information commissioner P
Vijaya Babu has stated: "...it is an undisputed fact that Hyderabad
Cricket Association, Visakha Ground, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal,
Hyderabad, built in the prime 25 acres of land had been given by the state
government on paltry lease of Rs 25 lakh per annum. The fact remains that the
said stadium was built on public land and services of various departments
including police and municipality are being utilized for the smooth conduct of
cricket match...I hold that the PIO, HCA is public authority".
Further
condemning the PIO, Babu also imposed a pen alty of Rs 25,000 on the PIO
Secretary , which he stated, "shall be deducted from the June 2015
salary".
The RTI war
first came to light in September 2013 when Kanchanbag resident Mahesh Mamindla
approached APIC after being denied information by the HCA. He had reportedly
sought information on land allotments and incentives that the HCA received from
the government. The association, however, refused to respond insisting that it
was a "society" and was, therefore, exempt from the RTI Act. Multiple
hearings and adjournments later, the APIC finally pronounced its judgment in
April this year.
"It is
astonishing to see HCA refusing to honour a constitutional body . Going by
Section 2(h) of the Act, the a s s o c i at i o n clearly is public authority
.Its refusal to abide by the order only exposes its arrogance and sheer lack of
respect for the law of the land," an enraged Babu said, and urged the gov
ernment to intervene in the matter at the earliest.
"The HCA
can approach the high court now and get a stay on our order. It is thus the
state government's prerogative to stop it from disrespecting the APIC. The
chief secretary should take matters in his hand and force the HCA to abide by
the order, failing which the association land should be taken away by the
government," Babu added.
RTI activists
from the city, however, toed a different line of argument. While terming the
HCA's attitude as "ridiculous", C J Karira said: "The commission
should now approach a judicial magistrate and get a FIR registered against HCA
officials for disobeying an order promulgated by a public servant. That's the
only way to nail them."