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Journalism of Courage
The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court dismissed a PIL seeking a direction to the Union Ministry of Culture,Youth and Sports Welfare and Finance ministry to take over administration of the cricket board to promote the game and charity effectively and transparently.
Justices F M Ibrahim Kalifullah and K B K Vasuki said if the petitioner felt the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was not meeting the objectives of society,then he could complain to the registrar of societies.
“If they violated income tax rules,then the same could be taken up with the I-T department,” the court said.
The petitioner could not straightaway file a PIL without approaching the authorities concerned to get a proper remedy for his grievance,the bench held.
The petitioner B Stalin,a city advocate,contended that the BCCI,under the category of a charitable institution received grants,donations and contributions and enjoyed tax exemption (till 2006-07). But it was not spending even eight per cent of its total income to promote the game.
The cricket body has billions of rupees as surplus in its account,but lacked infrastructure,he said.
He claimed that certain activities of BCCI were totally commercial and there was no element of charity in its conduct,the major income arises not from the game,but from business of cricket. BCCI’s intention was to promote business and not the game,he charged.
