In a landmark judgment reinforcing transparency, the Karnataka High Court has ruled that Bengaluru’s elite Century Club qualifies as a “public authority” under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, due to the historical grant of land it received from the erstwhile Maharaja of Mysuru in 1913.
Justice Suraj Govindaraj, while dismissing the club’s plea against an earlier directive by the Karnataka Information Commission, held that the 7.5-acre parcel of prime land adjacent to Cubbon Park constituted substantial financial support from the State, thus bringing the club within the purview of the RTI Act.
“The grant of land on which the petitioner club is located amounts to substantial financing by the State, made by the then Maharaja of Mysuru,” the court stated, affirming the applicability of the RTI Act.
The court emphasized that the club’s existence is intrinsically tied to the land granted over a century ago, noting that “without this land, the club’s very functioning would be questionable.” All amenities and operations of the club are situated on this property, making it a foundational state-supported asset.
The club had argued that it operates exclusively through membership contributions and that the land was a personal gift from the Maharaja, who also served as Patron-in-Chief of the club. However, the court dismissed this claim, stating there was no evidence to suggest the land was the Maharaja’s personal property. The court clarified that the land was part of the Kingdom of Mysore’s holdings, thereby categorizing the grant as a governmental action.
Further, the court noted that even if the club is now privately funded, the market value of the land far exceeds any member contributions, underscoring the disproportionate benefit derived from public resources.
The case originated in 2012, when Advocate S. Umapathy filed an RTI request under Section 4 of the Act seeking access to club records. The club refused, claiming it was not a public authority. In 2018, the Karnataka Information Commission directed the club to disclose the requested information. This was challenged by the club, leading to the High Court’s recent ruling.
