NEW DELHI: The Delhi Soccer Association (DSA) has been declared a “public authority” by the Central Information Commission, after a plaint filed against it under the Right to Information Act.
A Delhi citizen had approached the CIC after being snubbed by the DSA on requests seeking the status of various complaints received by the association against its office bearers from girl footballers of the national capital.
The DSA claimed that it did not fall under the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act as it was not defined as a “public authority”, hence, it was not answerable to queries posed by the citizen, D K Bose, through his application.
While the parent body, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) also also asked the DSA to probe the matter thoroughly, the DSA replied, claiming the petitioner “Bose of Hindustan Football Club was known for manipulating documents for his personal benefits”, and sought action against him.
After hearing the DSA, AIFF and Bose, Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu noted that even in performing its activities as a sole body of football in Delhi, the DSA was expected to act under the control and supervision of the All India Football Federation, a public authority under the Ministry of Sports, a PTI report notes.
He noted that the the monopoly recognised, sanctioned and continued by the government through the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (through the All India Football Federation) was indirect, but had substantial funding by the government.
Acharyulu noted that frequent complaints by women sports persons, including those of sexual harassment, against an important executive like vice president reflect an unhealthy atmosphere prevalent in the DSA.
Holding that it was highly unbecoming of the sports body to claim it was not answerable under the the RTI Act when it did not deny having complete monopoly over the game (of football) in Delhi, Acharyalu noted: “In fact, being a public body concerned with public activity like football, the DSA should have voluntarily disclosed the entire information about it, including the bits and pieces asked by the appellant in this and several other appeals, and fulfil its obligation under Section 4 of RTI Act.”
“The Commission has no hesitation to declare unequivocally that being under the control of the AIFF, and with grant of monopoly, established over the sport of football within the territory of NCR of Delhi, the Delhi Soccer Association is a body controlled and substantially financed by the Government of India, and hence, a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005,” Acharyulu added.
Asked for his comments on the development, newly elected DSA president Shaji Prabhakaran told SportzPower, “It is a well timed order and I welcome it. Our plan is to be transparent in every aspect.”
