Noida: “Sports Bill is a necessity to check increasing Commercialization of Sports in India,” stressed E.M.S. Natchiappan, Minister of State of Commerce and Industry during Amity Competition on Law Reforms here on Friday.
E.M.S. Natchiappan, Minister of State of Commerce and Industry on Friday said that India, since time immemorial, has been promoting the importance of good health, healthy spirit and mind. “Sports help to nurture all these. Sports, as such, do not need any regulations but when the Finance or Commerce aspect comes into sports, then comes the need for regulations. Sports Bill has become a necessity because Sports like Cricket have become commercialized. therefore, there is a pressing need to bring various Sports under the ambit of law,” said the minister.
Natchiappan said that India, since time immemorial, has been promoting the importance of good health, healthy spirit and mind. “Sports help to nurture all these. Sports, as such, do not need any regulations but when the Finance or Commerce aspect comes into sports, then comes the need for regulations. Sports Bill has become a necessity because Sports like Cricket have become commercialized. therefore, there is a pressing need to bring various Sports under the ambit of law,” said the minister.
Addressing the gathering, Wajahat Habibullah, Chairperson of the National Commission on minorities and Ex Chief Information Commissioner of the Government of India opined that it was very important that inputs of public to go into drafting of various bills and laws. “Public should get a sense of participation in legislature. “The framework of Sports in India is poised for a great leap forward. The fixation of sports amongst Indians, from all age groups, is unprecedented. It is important to regulate the sports to ensure that they are clean and transparent,” he said.
He shared, that despite the stern resistance by BCCI, it has been discussed to bring it under the ambit of RTI very soon so that absolute monopoly enjoyed by BCCI could be challenged, as and when necessary.
Lalit Bhasin, Senior Advocate and Director, SILF, while sharing his views, said that Sports Law in India is conspicuous by its very absence. “India has not seen meaningful promotion of sports. Ironically, during British era, the sports were widely promoted but now, they are being promoted for furthering the vested interest of few people, who are interesting in generating more black money,” he said.
He averred that BCCI was not only trying to control Cricket in India but across the world with the support of England and Australia, since BCCI controls 80% of the revenue generated by cricket activity. The senior advocate called for the urgent need to draft a Sports Law to regulate Sports in a fair manner and put in place an efficient Sports Authority, since Sports can no longer be left to private players who are businessmen and promote commercialism in Sports.
Amity Law School, Noida organized 3rd Amity Competition on Law Reforms (ACLR) from January 22-24, 2014 at Amity Campus, Sector- 125, Noida.
The theme of the competition was based on “Reforms in the field of Sports Laws” and tested the awareness of the students regarding Sports Laws and their ability to frame an exhaustive code to govern the same.