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, curiously 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 manipulated," Ayub
said. This, even as TOI accessed a copy of the same from the Information
Commissioner'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 penalty 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 under the Act by the HCA. He had
reportedly sought information on land allotments and incentives that the HCA
received from the state 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 association 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, questioning the
association's activities. "Of course it has something to hide. That's why
it is fighting it tooth and nail," he added and urged the state government
to intervene in the matter at the earliest.
"The HCA
can well approach the high court now and get a stay on our order. It is thus
the state government's prerogative now 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 under
various sections of the IPC against HCA officials for disobeying an order
promulgated by a public servant during his course of duty. That's the only way
to nail them."
.JPG)
.JPG)
