Nine-member panel selected to prepare revised NSDCI draft

A nine-member working group, headed by former Delhi High Court judge C.K. Mahajan, was formed by the central government on Tuesday to facilitate holding of consultations and prepare a revised draft of the National Sports Development Code of India (NSDCI) which came into effect in 2011.

The decision was taken to have more transparency and accountability in the functioning of sports bodies including the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in view of developments in the sports sector necessitating more accountability and transparency in the functioning of sports bodies, an official release said here.

"Hence, further amendments to the various provisions of NSDCI need to be re-examined and bring about suitable amendments to relevant provisions of the NSDCI," the release said.

The committee will also have the services of lawyer Pallavi Shroff, former Olympic hockey captain Ajitpal Singh and Arjuna awardee table tennis player Indu Puri.

Sports ministry joint secretary Onkar Kedia will also be part of the panel that includes the president and secretary general IOA as ex-officio members. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) secretary will function as the body's member secretary.

The terms of reference of the working group will be to examine the existing NSDCI from both sports governance and legal angles and fine-tune/revise the same with the purpose of making it more precise and succinct.

They would also have to make specific recommendations on preparation of Electoral College and streamlining of State/District bodies.

The committee shall submit the revised draft of the NSDCI within three months.