Karnataka SIC: Bangalore Golf club is a public authority under the RTI Act
15 Dec, 2012Adding to the list of the clubs which the different information commissions have declared to be covered under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the Karnataka State Information Commission (SIC) has ruled that the Bangalore Golf Club is a ‘public authority’ and is within the ambit of RTI Act.
Earlier an application was filed under the RTI Act by Umapathi seeking certain information which was declined by the Golf Club holding that it is not a public authority as defined under section 2 (h) of the RTI Act. It was claimed before the Karnataka SIC that the Club is a society registered under Societies Registration Act and not an entity funded by the government. The bench presided over by Dr Shekhar D Sajjanar, rejected the plea of the Club. The Karnataka State Tourism Department controls the Club.
The SIC has directed the Golf Club to appoint a Public Information Officer and the First Appellate Authority within 15 days.