Karnataka HC Declares Century Club a ‘Public Authority’ Under RTI Act

Fast Summary

• The Karnataka High Court ruled that the 7.5 acres of land gifted by the Maharaja of Mysore to Bengaluru’s Century Club in 1913 constitutes “significant financing by the State.”
• The court dismissed a petition filed by the club challenging a 2018 order from the State information Commission (SIC), which classified Century Club as a “public authority” under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
• According to Justice Suraj Govindaraj, based on current valuation, the contribution from this land far outweighs membership fees or contributions made by club members.
• The SIC decided that due to benefits from state-granted land, Century Club must provide information under RTI.
• The court clarified that no payment was made for this land and rejected claims about it being personal property of Maharaja Narasimha Raja Wadiyar or his successors.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The Karnataka High Court’s decision serves as an critically important precedent in interpreting what qualifies as “substantial contribution” when determining public accountability under RTI provisions.By ruling that state-provided assets like prime real estate establish public authority status, it underscores accountability for institutions benefiting significantly from government resources-even those established during pre-independence eras.

This case potentially widens RTI applicability beyond conventional government bodies and into areas involving historic contributions tied to erstwhile states. As transparency grows more critical in India’s governance landscape, this judgment strengthens mechanisms ensuring broader access to information where public interest is involved.Read more: Source