By CricketCountry Staff
The Sports Ministry is seeking cabinet’s approval on the National Sports (Development) Bill 2011 in the current session of the parliament, which will help it to bring the Board of Control for Cricket in India under the National Sports Federations (NSFs).
Published: Aug 30, 2011, 10:50 AM (IST)
Edited: Aug 30, 2011, 10:50 AM (IST)
The BCCI would also have to follow the anti-doping rules as per the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
By CricketCountry Staff
New Delhi: Aug 30, 2011
The Sports Ministry is seeking cabinet’s approval on the National Sports (Development) Bill 2011 in the current session of the parliament, which will help it to bring the Board of Control for Cricket in India under the National Sports Federations (NSFs).
The bill seeks to bring the BCCI as an NSF organisation, and it wants it to function as a “public authority” and comply with its requirements specified in the Right to Information Act (RTI), The Times of India reported.
If BCCI comes under NSF, it will be bound to provide information under the RTI act and would also have to follow the anti-doping rules as per the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
But as expected, the BCCI rejected the sports ministry move.
The BCCI vice president Rajeev Shukla said that the cricket governing body is not keen to come under the RTI and also refused to comment on the specifics of the new sports bill.
The BCCI had strongly opposed these proposals of the bill, and even the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) want to continue functioning in an autonomous manner, free from public scrutiny and accountability.
The National Sports Bill aims to create and enable a legal framework for a healthy development of sports in the country, and also demands more transparency in the system by suggesting measures for the IOA as well as the other NSFs on several other matters, including finance.
As per the bill, the IOA is supposed to submit a detailed report to the Centre every year which would be laid before both houses of the Parliament.
This report would include audited financial statements as well as measures taken to promote the welfare of the athletes, to fight against doping, to promote sports, expeditious and time-bound redressal of grievances mechanism.
The bill also says that every office bearer of NSFs and the IOA shall retire at an age of 70 years. The presidents of these organisations will not be eligible to re-contest for the similar post on completion of 12 years or three terms in office of four years each, with or without break.
Also, the other officers cannot continue for more than two consecutive terms, but will be eligible for re-election after a cooling-off period of four years.
