JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) has sparked a fresh controversy after applying for registration as a public trust with the state’s Devasthan Department, with the Opposition questioning the timing and legality of the move.
According to documents submitted to the department, RCA Ad-hoc Committee Convenor Deendayal Kumawat has filed an application seeking to register the cricket body as a public trust under the Rajasthan Public Trusts Act, 1959, naming himself as the acting or principal trustee.
Speaking to IANS, Kumawat said the application was submitted primarily to obtain tax exemptions. He said the move followed a notice issued by the Income Tax Department on February 19, asking why the RCA had not registered under the state’s public trust law despite presenting itself as a charitable organisation.
The notice reportedly pointed out that the RCA was not administered by any authority under the control of the state government and had not been granted tax exemption through any specific notification. It advised the Association to register under the Rajasthan Public Trusts Act, 1959, if it intended to claim benefits available to charitable institutions under the Income Tax Act, 1961.