Centre framing law to check dishonest practices in sports: Sibal

NEW DELHI: Amid the ongoing controversy relating to spot-fixing in IPL, the government is framing a stand-alone central legislation to check any activity of dishonest practice, match fixing/spot fixing in sporting events.

Announcing this over the weekend, Law minister Kapil Sibal said the process had been initiated as the attorney general for India Ghoolam Vahanvati had opined that "dishonest practices like match fixing/spot fixing are so abhorrent to the concept of sport, that they cannot fall within the concept of ?sports? occurring in Entry 33 and as explained by the supreme court in the Cricket Association of Bengal case. The power to regulate these activities cannot flow from the term ?sports? in Entry 33."

Furthermore, Vahanvati has said, "As far as Entry 34 of List II is concerned, the same reads ?betting and gambling?. In my opinion, dishonest practices like match fixing/spot fixing do not come within the purview of the terms ? betting and gambling?."

"Betting and gambling relate to wagering on the result of a sporting event or some events within a sporting event. Depending on whether such wagering is predominantly skill based or luck based, it is termed as betting or gambling respectively. On the other hand, the provisions with regard to control of malpractices would apply irrespective of whether or not betting or gambling is legal. In fact, corruption in sports can exist even if there is no betting or gambling involved. This clearly shows that Entry 34 of List II does not come in the way of a comprehensive legislation on the subject," he added.

Sibal said Vahanvati had also expressed the opinion that instead of going in for the amendments in the Indian Penal Code, it would be much better to have a stand-alone legislation. The minister said the basic draft of the proposed legislation will be complete in next few days after which it will be sent to the sports ministry for further action and discussion with all the stakeholders.

Sibal said that Rajiv Shukla and Arun Jaitley who are both associated with cricket bodies have also expressed the urgent necessity and support for such a central legislation and he hoped that the legislation will get the support of the opposition in the parliament, whenever it is tabled.

FICCI had last week recommended legitimising betting in sports to avoid unhealthy practices.