BCCI under RTI? Cabinet to discuss new Sports Bill

New Delhi: The Cabinet will discuss on Tuesday a new Sports Bill that seeks to put the BCCI under the RTI Act and also cut sports czars down to size. Sports Minister Ajay Maken has said the proposed new Bill is aimed at bringing in transparency and accountability in all sports bodies.

Maken said on Monday that the Draft National Sports Development Bill will be discussed by the Cabinet today and if approved, it will be introduced in Parliament in the ongoing monsoon session itself. He added that the Bill once passed would bring in more accountability in the functioning of National Sports Federations (NSFs).

"We need reforms in sports, which we hope the National Sports Bill will bring. Our idea was to introduce the Bill in the monsoon session. The inter-ministerial consultation is over and it will be presented to the Cabinet tomorrow (Tuesday). If passed, it will then go to Parliament for resolution," he said. "I am hopeful that the Parliament will be unanimous on this Bill. I am hopeful it (Bill) will be cleared in this session," Maken added.


The new Bill proposes a 23-member advisory council comprising members from the government and sports federations. The panel will advise the Centre on recognising and de-recognising sports federations as well as on matters of strategy.


The move comes closely on the heels of a stinging indictment by the government's auditor in its report on the Centre's role in the mess that the Commonwealth Games (CWG) was. The sporting extravaganza was marred by massive financial irregularities, poor planning and implementation and major infrastructural goof-ups. Leading the charge in this multi-crore scam is former chairman of the Organising Committee, Suresh Kalmadi. Currently in jail, Mr Kalmadi along with his associates is accused of brazenly looting crores of public money while conducting the Games. His appointment as the CWG boss too was questioned in the Comptroller and Auditor General's report with the role of the Prime Minister's Office also coming under scrutiny.

 

Some Pointers from The New Sports Bill:

According to the provisions of this proposed tough Bill, sports federations will have to comply with the fresh directives within a year, which will make elections compulsory every four years.


The Bill also proposes that no person beyond the age of 70 can hold more than two terms in office. At the same time, they cannot hold more than two positions. This rule is intended to end the monopoly held by several politicians over the years as heads of various sports bodies.


All sports federations including the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will come under the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Â


The new Bill will now make it mandatory for cricketers too to undergo age and dope tests.


The final authority on overseeing all national sports federations, Indian Olympic Association (IOA), playing fields and anti-doping agency NADA will be the Central government.


The Bill also envisages a sports ombudsman to arbitrate between warring factions or over disputes.


It also incorporates a sports tribunal to be headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court to decide on penalties and pass judgements.


The proposed Bill has met with stiff resistance by sports federations in the past which are headed by politicians cutting across party lines