New Delhi, July 11: The BCCI could be again set on collision course
with the sports ministry as a contentious clause in the draft national
sports development bill states that only those federations who come
under the Right to Information Act (RTI) ambit will have the right to
use 'India' as the team's name.
The committee headed by Justice (retired) Mukul Mudgal on Wednesday
(July 10) submitted the bill to the ministry which was later put up on
its website. Clause (h) of the proposed bill will certainly cause a few
problems for the BCCI as it pertains to use of country name in sporting
activities.
Team India to be 'Team BCCI'?
It states: "In order to represent India in international events and to
have a right for a particular sport federation to use 'India' or
'Indian' in the sport scenario, the federation shall have to comply with
Chapter IV (Unethical practices in Sports) and Chapter IX
(Applicability of Right to Information Act)."
The BCCI is not a registered National Sports Federation (NSF) as it does
not take government grant and thus cannot be brought under RTI but if
the draft sports bill is finally passed by the Parliament, then Mahendra
Singh Dhoni and Co. can't officially represent 'India' at international
tournaments.
BCCI's interim chief Jagmohan Dalmiya declined to comment on the issue
before having a detailed look at the document.
"It will be unfair to make any comments on this issue until I get a copy
of the draft sports bill. Once I have a detailed look, I will discuss
the issue with the other senior members of the board and take a final
call," Dalmiya said.
BCCI's GM (Game Development) Ratnakar Shetty also refused to make any
comments
The BCCI has strongly resisted any kind of government interference in
its day-to-day functioning and the members are unanimous in their view
that coming under RTI will affect its functioning.
"We have taken an unified stand till now on resisting any kind of
government interference. We don't take any help from the government so
how does the question of coming under RTI arise?" a senior office-bearer
questioned.
As per the provisions of the Bill, only two clauses will be applicable
on the BCCI -- one pertaining to RTI (chapter 9) while the other is on
Ethics (chapter 4) which envisages among other things drug abuse and
code of conduct.
Sports secretary PK Deb said if the Bill is passed, the BCCI will
automatically come under its purview.
"If the draft is passed, then the BCCI should also come under the bill,"
Deb said.
Asked if the BCCI refused to come under the RTI, will its team not be
allowed to use 'India', Deb said, "I suppose so. But it is too premature
to say anything at this stage. The Draft is now only being put up on
the website and we are awaiting responses from all quarters."
The sports bill, a brainchild of former sports minister Ajay Maken, was
initially not cleared by the Union Cabinet. The sports ministry was told
to revise the bill and then seek the cabinet's clearance.
Jitendra Singh, who took over from Maken, then formed a committee headed
by Justice Mudgal to revise the bill which will become a law only when
it is passed in Parliament. Team India to become 'Team BCCI'?
New Delhi, July 11: The BCCI could be again set on collision course
with the sports ministry as a contentious clause in the draft national
sports development bill states that only those federations who come
under the Right to Information Act (RTI) ambit will have the right to
use 'India' as the team's name.
The committee headed by Justice (retired) Mukul Mudgal on Wednesday
(July 10) submitted the bill to the ministry which was later put up on
its website. Clause (h) of the proposed bill will certainly cause a few
problems for the BCCI as it pertains to use of country name in sporting
activities.
Team India to be 'Team BCCI'?
It states: "In order to represent India in international events and to
have a right for a particular sport federation to use 'India' or
'Indian' in the sport scenario, the federation shall have to comply with
Chapter IV (Unethical practices in Sports) and Chapter IX
(Applicability of Right to Information Act)."
The BCCI is not a registered National Sports Federation (NSF) as it does
not take government grant and thus cannot be brought under RTI but if
the draft sports bill is finally passed by the Parliament, then Mahendra
Singh Dhoni and Co. can't officially represent 'India' at international
tournaments.
BCCI's interim chief Jagmohan Dalmiya declined to comment on the issue
before having a detailed look at the document.
"It will be unfair to make any comments on this issue until I get a copy
of the draft sports bill. Once I have a detailed look, I will discuss
the issue with the other senior members of the board and take a final
call," Dalmiya said.
BCCI's GM (Game Development) Ratnakar Shetty also refused to make any
comments
The BCCI has strongly resisted any kind of government interference in
its day-to-day functioning and the members are unanimous in their view
that coming under RTI will affect its functioning.
"We have taken an unified stand till now on resisting any kind of
government interference. We don't take any help from the government so
how does the question of coming under RTI arise?" a senior office-bearer
questioned.
As per the provisions of the Bill, only two clauses will be applicable
on the BCCI -- one pertaining to RTI (chapter 9) while the other is on
Ethics (chapter 4) which envisages among other things drug abuse and
code of conduct.
Sports secretary PK Deb said if the Bill is passed, the BCCI will
automatically come under its purview.
"If the draft is passed, then the BCCI should also come under the bill,"
Deb said.
Asked if the BCCI refused to come under the RTI, will its team not be
allowed to use 'India', Deb said, "I suppose so. But it is too premature
to say anything at this stage. The Draft is now only being put up on
the website and we are awaiting responses from all quarters."
The sports bill, a brainchild of former sports minister Ajay Maken, was
initially not cleared by the Union Cabinet. The sports ministry was told
to revise the bill and then seek the cabinet's clearance.
Jitendra Singh, who took over from Maken, then formed a committee headed
by Justice Mudgal to revise the bill which will become a law only when
it is passed in Parliament.