Henceforth, all details that you need to get from the Shahaji Raje Krida Sankul (SRKS), Andheri, will be available under RTI. The state information commission has ordered that the SRKS is a public authority and will have to provide information under the RTI Act.
Shahaji Raje Bhosale Krida Sankul, which is close to Azad Nagar Metro station in Andheri, was started in the year 1988 by the MCGM and has an area of 11 acre under it. It was created under Brihanmumbai Krida Ani Lalitkala Pratishthan (BKLP).
The order was given after the Sankul rejected an application that sought details of compensation paid to a victim who had drowned in its swimming pool. Dated July 5, the ruling was passed by a joint bench of Ajitkumar Jain, information commissioner (Brihanmumbai bench), and Thanksy Thekkekara, information commissioner (Konkan bench), on an application made by one Thane-based Umesh Bhosale.
Sankul includes sports facilities like swimming pool, badminton, gymnastics, fitness/aerobics, football, gymnasium, jogging, KUDO, lawn tennis and karate among others. It also has a facility for cultural programmes, an art gallery (A/C) and a banquet hall.
"I have worked in the place and there has been lack of transparency in its functioning. They had removed me once and did not take me when they were hiring again. They have been renting out the place too often instead of looking after it," claimed Bhosale who said he has worked there as a peon.
The public information officer (PIO) did not give any response and the first appellate authority (FAA) did not hear the appeal. During the second appeal, officials of the Sankul contended that it does not come under RTI Act.
During the second appeal hearing, the applicant said he was given information under RTI from the Sankul earlier. He has in his possession a letter from the advocate for the organisation, saying that it falls under RTI. It gets land from BMC, has eight of 13 trustees from BMC and also it gets some funding.
During the hearing, the commission relied on the definition of public authority and competent authority to determine whether SRKS was a public authority. While the applicant gave his say, SRKS did not come up with any explanation.
The commission order stated that BKLP came under RTI and that the applicant be given information within 30 days. When contacted, its managing trustee Aadesh Bandekar said, "We have appointed a public information officer and are giving information."
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