Table of Contents
Classical Dance Forms & Indian classical music
Under scrutiny
Little surprise in the Law Commission of India recommendation that the Board of Control
for Cricket in India be brought under the purview of the Right to Information Act.
Cash rich and commercially successful apex cricket body will have to make itself
more transparent and accountable
Even though a five judge Bench of the Supreme Court in 2005 held by a 3-2 majority
that the BCCI could not be termed an instrumentality of the „State‟ under Article 12
of the Constitution.
Subsequent developments have ensured that the public character of its functioning is
widely recognised- Betting scandal that hit the IPL tournament a few years ago
Supreme Court‟s intervention led to the constitution of the Justice R.M. Lodha Committee
Recommended reforms in the board‟s structure and the rules governing its administration
Many believe that implementing these reforms at both national and State levels would impart
greater transparency in its functioning and lead to an overhaul of cricket administration in th
e country.
1)-Lodha Committee recommended treated as a public authority under the RTI Act,
2)-Supreme Court wanted the Law Commission to examine this suggestion.
3)-The Central Information Commission favoured the idea.
4)-Union government has on different occasions maintained that BCCI is a „national sports
federation‟ and, therefore, an entity that falls under the RTI Act‟s ambit
Board gets no financial help directly, but the commission has argued that the tax and duty
exemptions and land concessions it got would amount to indirect financing by the state
However, the BCCI is not one of the national federations listed on the website of
the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Its autonomy would suffer as a result of being brought under the RTI
The Hadiya caution
In January 2016 when Mr. Asokan first approached the Kerala High Court.
His grievance was that his daughter, who was born a Hindu, with the given
name Akhila, and who had later converted o Islam taking the name Hadiya
Supreme Court judgment in Shafin Jahan v. Asokan K.M., or
Hadiya case as we‟ve come to know it.
Court has reversed a most reprehensible ruling by the Kerala High Court.
Attention on the centrality of individual
freedom & autonomy under constitutional scheme.
“It is obligatory to state here that expression of choice in accord with
law is acceptance of individual identity,”
The social values and morals have their space but they are not above the
constitutionally guaranteed freedom
Marginalised from school
Centre must review the implementation of the Right to Education Act across the country
Minister‟s replies to me that five States (Goa, Manipur, Mizoram, Sikkim and Telangana) have
not even issued notifications regarding admissions under the RTE
25% of seats for children from economically weaker sections (EWS), in the age bracket of
six to 14 years
This enabled economically marginalised communities to access high quality private
schools
While Telangana may be excused due to its recent formation,
It is unjustifiable that the other States have failed to undertake the most basic steps to
implement Section 12(1)(c) of an Act passed eight years ago.
29 States and seven Union Territories, only 14 have notified their per-child costs.
The provision does not apply to Jammu and Kashmir
There are no private schools in Lakshadweep
20 States/UTs have still not notified the per child costs, a blatant violation of the letter and
spirit of the RTE.
The Preamble to the Constitution states that the democratic Republic of India shall secure
social, economic and political justice.
Education is undoubtedly the most important element in the movement to secure this end.
Although the Directive Principles of State Policy mandate state to provide children the right
to access education, and 86th constitutional amendment and RTE dictate its implementation,
it will only be fulfilled if sincere efforts are made by States under guidance and prodding of a
committed Centre.
Executive is responsible for the implementation of RTE and legislature has the duty to hold
the executive accountable
Central government should immediately convene a meeting with all State education ministers
and review the implementation of the law
We need to act immediately to address the gaps in the implementation of the law.
The future of our children depends on it
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