Sports Council Bill passed amid INLD opposition

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 29

Amid strong opposition from the main Opposition INLD and repeated extension of House sittings, the Haryana Assembly today passed the Haryana Sports Council Bill, 2016, aimed at constituting statutory sports councils at the state, district, block, municipal corporation, municipal council and municipal committee levels.

The Bill, which was moved by Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Anil Vij, saw Leader of the Opposition and INLD leader Abhay Chautala picking up holes in certain provisions of the Bill, which he alleged could ultimately hit sports in the state.

Chautala, a former president of the Indian Olympic Association, apprehended that the statutory bodies sought to be constituted under the Bill would control the sports bodies.

Chautala wanted the Assembly to take up the Bill tomorrow to which Vij replied that it should be passed today itself as it was National Sports Day being the birthday of hockey wizard Dhyan Chand. At this, the Speaker adjourned the House for 20 minutes to enable the member to study the Bill.

When the House re-assembled, Vij asserted that the new sports bodies would not be interfer with the autonomy of the sports associations and its sole purpose was to promote sports.

Vij asserted that sports councils would be constituted under the Haryana Sports and Physical Fitness Policy,2015, to provide for the promotion of sports, games, yoga and physical fitness, to augment athletic efficiency and to promote the concept of ‘Sports for All’.

The State Sports Council would be headed by the Chief Minister. Any sports organisation carrying out activities at the state or district level may be registered with the State Sports Council as a registered sports organisation. Any sportsperson may register as a sportsperson in the District Sports Council. The sports clubs functioning only in the area of any Municipal Corporation, Municipal Council, Municipal Committee or Block Panchayat Samiti may register as a sports club with the Corporation Sports Council, Municipal Sports Council, Town Sports Council or Block Sports Council concerned.