ELCITA is a public authority and must provide information under RTI: Karnataka Information Commission

ELCITA is the first industrial township area of Karnataka and houses many software and other corporate companies. It is a public-private, self-sustained township that also manages town planning, roads, water supply, and other basic facilities.

ELCITA challenged Ganesh’s contention, stating that it was not a public authority and cited Supreme Court and high court judgments on cooperative societies. It argued it was neither substantially financed nor controlled by the Government, claiming that mere regulatory or supervisory oversight would not bring it within the RTI Act’s scope.

The commission rejected these arguments and observed that Electronics City was developed by the Karnataka Government through KEONICS in 1970 and that ELCITA is a statutory body constituted under Section 364 A of the Karnataka Municipalities Act 1964 via a 2013 government notification. The commission emphasised that ELCITA performs essential civic functions, including providing roads, water supply, sanitation, and critically, collecting property tax—a core governmental function.

The panel further noted that ELCITA collects taxes following government guidelines and transfers 30 per cent of revenue to three gram panchayats within its jurisdiction. Government officials from various departments serve on ELCITA’s board, and the authority operates under state legislative frameworks.

Relying on constitutional provisions and multiple judicial precedents, the commission concluded that ELCITA exercises municipal powers and constitutes a statutory public body. It directed ELCITA to appoint a public information officer, an assistant PIO, and a first appellate authority immediately.