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Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service
Shimla, July 28
Having run out of patience following indecision on the part of the Governor over the pending Himachal Pradesh Sports (Registration, Recognition and Regulation of Associations) Bill 2015, the state government has made up its mind to table another Bill in the Assembly during the ensuing monsoon session in case there is no decision by Acharya Devvrat.
Sources said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who is perturbed over the inordinate delay on the part of Governor in either giving assent or rejecting the Sports Bill, has brought the matter to the notice of President Pranab Mukherjee during his meeting with him two days back. As such it is being expected that the Governor might take a final call on the contentious Bill, which has become a bone of contention between the BJP and the Congress.
It was on April 11, 2015 that the Himachal Assembly had passed the Sports Bill and later sent it to Governor Kalyan Singh, who was holding additional charge of Himachal. In fact, the Chief Minister had personally met Kalyan Singh to impress upon him the need to give consent to the Bill. Governor Acharya Devvrat assumed office on August 12, 2015 and it will be almost a year since the decision on Sports Bill is pending with him.
Virbhadra today confirmed that in case there is no decision by the Governor in the near future, his government will table the Bill again in the assembly. “The Governor must take a decision either ways on the pending Sports Bill as accordingly we too will table the Bill again in the Assembly,” he remarked. He added that he had on several occasions requested the Governor to take a decision on the Bill.
President of the Board of Cricket Control in India Anurag Thakur who is BJP MP from Hamirpur, is the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Chief. In fact, the HPCA too had approached the Governor expressing apprehension that the Sports Bill was basically intended to clip their wings and ensure government interference in the cricket body.
The Chief Minister said it became all the more imperative for the Governor to give consent to the pending Sports Bill as it is completely in line with the recommendations of the Lodha Committee on sports bodies. “What we have proposed in the Sports Bill is exactly what the recommendations made by the Lodha Committee regarding reforms in the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI),” he said.
He further said that the sole objective of the Bill was to ensure transparent and democratic functioning of all the 42 sports bodies in the state.
The Chief Minister said another very important aspect was that even the Supreme Court had accepted the recommendations of the Lodha Committee as they were basically in the interest of the game and keeping out undue interference. The committee has barred ministers, civil servants and those above the age of 70 years from becoming members of the BCCI.
TIMELINE
April 11,2015 : HP Assembly passes and sends Sports Bill to Governor.
June 12, 2015 : HPCA approaches Governor to reject Sports Bill.
June 14, 2015 : Governor Kalyan Singh seeks reply from HP government on HPCA plea.
July 23, 2015 : State government sends its reply to Governor Kalyan Singh on HPCA representation.
August 12, 2015 : Acharya Devvrat takes oath as Governor.
Virbhadra perturbed
Sources say Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh is perturbed over the inordinate delay on the part of Governor in either giving assent or rejecting the Sports Bill
He has brought the matter to the notice of President Pranab Mukherjee.
As such it is being expected that the Governor might take a final call on the contentious Bill, which has become a bone of contention between the BJP and the Congress.
The CM said the sole objective of the Bill was to ensure transparent and democratic functioning of all the 42 sports bodies in the state.
What we have proposed in the Sports Bill is exactly what the recommendations made by the Lodha Committee regarding reforms in the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI). — Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister
Step towards transparency
The objective of the Bill is to ensure transparent and democratic functioning of all 42 sports bodies in the state
Even the Supreme Court has accepted the recommendations of the Lodha Committee as they are basically in the interest of the game and keeping out undue interference.
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