SC notice to Centre on reforms in sports bodies

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 23

The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to the Central Government on a petition seeking reforms in all national and state sports bodies on the lines of those enforced in the Indian cricket board (BCCI) on the recommendations of the Justice RM Lodha Committee.

The notices were issued by a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India JS Khehar on a public interest petition filed by eminent sportspersons who wanted the top court to issue directions to the government to extend the reforms recommended for BCCI to all sports bodies. 

The petitioners wanted the reforms to include making sports federations immune to unwarranted political interference. “The sports administration is engulfed with political influences and corruption, which affects sport and the performance of the sportspersons,” the petitioners submitted.

Over two dozen petitioners —including Olympians, Arjuna and Dronacharya awardees —contended that enforcing the reforms in the National Sports Development Code of India will ensure transparent functioning of all national and state sports bodies. It would lead to better governance of sports, they submitted.