The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Sarbananda Sonowal has said that Government has formulated the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011 (NSDCI), which inter-alia, contains instructions for ushering good governance and transparency in the functioning of the National Sports Federations (NSFs) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). These instructions were challenged by the IOA in the Delhi High Court vide WP No.2310/2012 in which the authority/powers of the Government to frame such instructions were also questioned. The Division Bench of Delhi High Court passed an elaborate order on 9.5.14 upholding the authority of the Union Government to lay down instructions/laws for the sports bodies and dismissed the WP filed by the IOA. As these provisions were upheld by Hon'ble High Court of Delhi in its order dated 9.5.14, these are binding on all NSFs. Since sports is a State subject, suitable instructions/law need to be promulgated by the State Governments as well to enforce the provisions of the NSDCI in order to bring about good governance and transparency in the functioning of all the State and District-level Associations. This step is considered necessary for raising the level of sports in the country. Therefore, all the State and Union Territory Governments have been requested to take immediate steps to promote good governance and transparency in the functioning of State and District-level Associations by issuing suitable instructions or by framing appropriate legislations. It is for the Government of States/Union Territories to take action in the matter.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha today Shri Sonowal said, NSFs are autonomous bodies registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860. The Government does not interfere in their day to day affairs. In order to bring in transparency and good governance in sports bodies, the Government has issued guidelines which, inter-alia, provide for inclusion of sportspersons in their executive bodies with voting rights. These guidelines are contained in the NSDCI. Some of the major features of NSDCI are as under :
i. The President of any recognized NSFs, including the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) can hold the office for a maximum period of twelve years with or without break.
ii. The Secretary (or by whatever other designation such as Secretary General or General Secretary by which he is referred to) and the Treasurer of any recognized NSF, including the IOA, may serve a maximum of two successive terms of four years each after which a minimum cooling off period of four years will apply to seek fresh election to either post.
iii. The President, the Secretary and the Treasurer of any recognized NSF, including the IOA, shall cease to hold that post on attaining the age of 70 years.
The Minister said, Government has taken a number of steps to ensure that all NSFs function in a transparent manner. Instructions have been issued for prevention of sexual harassment of women athletes, transparency in selection of players, prevention of age fraud etc. Instructions have also been issued to all the major NSFs to place on their website, various details of the international events held in India and abroad such as notification of selection criteria for such events well in advance along with the details of time and venue for selection, list of core probables and basis of their selection, details of coaching camps organized including venue, dates and list of participants, list of the athletes selected, performance criteria which formed the basis of selection, actual performance in terms of timing, distance, etc. and the position obtained by each athlete/team etc. These instructions have also been made an integral part of the National Sports Development Code of India. Government does not deal with State and District-level sports bodies, Shri Sonowal added.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha today Shri Sonowal said, NSFs are autonomous bodies registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860. The Government does not interfere in their day to day affairs. In order to bring in transparency and good governance in sports bodies, the Government has issued guidelines which, inter-alia, provide for inclusion of sportspersons in their executive bodies with voting rights. These guidelines are contained in the NSDCI. Some of the major features of NSDCI are as under :
i. The President of any recognized NSFs, including the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) can hold the office for a maximum period of twelve years with or without break.
ii. The Secretary (or by whatever other designation such as Secretary General or General Secretary by which he is referred to) and the Treasurer of any recognized NSF, including the IOA, may serve a maximum of two successive terms of four years each after which a minimum cooling off period of four years will apply to seek fresh election to either post.
iii. The President, the Secretary and the Treasurer of any recognized NSF, including the IOA, shall cease to hold that post on attaining the age of 70 years.
The Minister said, Government has taken a number of steps to ensure that all NSFs function in a transparent manner. Instructions have been issued for prevention of sexual harassment of women athletes, transparency in selection of players, prevention of age fraud etc. Instructions have also been issued to all the major NSFs to place on their website, various details of the international events held in India and abroad such as notification of selection criteria for such events well in advance along with the details of time and venue for selection, list of core probables and basis of their selection, details of coaching camps organized including venue, dates and list of participants, list of the athletes selected, performance criteria which formed the basis of selection, actual performance in terms of timing, distance, etc. and the position obtained by each athlete/team etc. These instructions have also been made an integral part of the National Sports Development Code of India. Government does not deal with State and District-level sports bodies, Shri Sonowal added.
