Question : OBSERVATIONS OF SC FOR SPORTS BODIES

(a) whether the Supreme Court (SC) has made observations on the issue of conflict of interest in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and other sports bodies;

(b) if so, the details thereof and reaction of the Government thereto;

(c) whether the Government proposes to formulate guidelines on the issue in order to curb the growth of family interest created in sports bodies and check relatives of important post holders from contesting elections to become office bearers;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the time by which guidelines are likely to be formulated; and

(e) if not, the reasons therefor and the steps proposed to be taken by the Government to stop corruption in BCCI including other sports bodies?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
(SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

(a) & (b) Madam, this Ministry has not received any orders from the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India on the issue.

(c) to (e) In order to ensure that National Sports Federations (NSFs) function in a democratic manner, Government has framed National Sports Development Code of India, 2011 (NSDCI). NSDCI, inter-alia, contains instructions to follow proper, democratic and healthy management practices which provide for greater accountability and transparency at all levels, adhere to age and duration of tenure limit of office bearers, follow guidelines on Good governance in the context of ‘Basic Universal Principle of Good Governance of Olympic and Sports Movement, hold the elections as per Model election guidelines devised by the Government.

From the year 2010, Government has introduced a system of annual recognition procedure for the NSFs, under which annual recognition is granted to those NSFs which comply with the provisions of NSDCI to avail all admissible Government assistance.

In order to increase the level of transparency and accountability in the functioning of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the NSFs, instruction have been issued to them to hoist, on their website, their audited annual accounts and the balance sheet duly audited by the auditors in the Panel of the Comptroller & Auditor General of India. They have also been asked to place the following on their website for the information and guidance of the stakeholders:-

i. List of core probables and basis of their selection.

ii. Details of coaching camps organized including venue, dates and list of participants.

iii. Notification of selection criteria for such events well in advance along with the details of time and venue for selection.

iv. List of the athletes selected.

v. Details of athletes, support personnel and other officials sent to the event along with the amount paid to them towards air fare, boarding and lodging, local transportation, daily allowance etc. This is required to be placed on the website within 15 days of the conclusion of the event.

vi. Performance criteria which formed the basis of selection, actual performance in terms of timing, distance, etc. and the position obtained by each athlete/team.

All these instructions have been made integral part of the NSDCI.

BCCI is an autonomous body registered under the Societies Registration Act. Government has not given recognition to BCCI as National Sports Federation. Consequently no financial assistance has been given by Department of Sports to it. The Ministry only grants permission to BCCI to organize international events at No Cost to the Government subject to the clearance of Ministry of External Affairs from political angle and Ministry of Home Affairs from security angle.