CHENNAI: The contentious matter of age and tenure in the redrafted National Sports Development Code (NSDC) is not going to be on the same lines as the Lodha panel recommendations. The redone NSDC, which came up for hearing at Delhi High Court on Wednesday, has raised the tenure to 12 years, according to sports lawyer Rahul Mehra, who was present at the court. “It’s been completely diluted to help the BCCI,” Mehra told Express. “Age is not for every member of the house, it’s only for office-bearers and the executive board.
“The tenure is only restricted to office-bearers, and the tenure itself has been raised to 12 years and the cooling off period of four years and another eight years so you can keep coming back,” he said. The Lodha committee recommendations, which were approved by the Supreme Court with respect to the BCCI, had laid down three years each of three terms with a three-year cooling off period after each term.
While it’s important to stress that the cricket body is not part of the Code, Mehra said it’s ‘now a no-brainer.’ “They will love to be a part of the Code now,” he said. The day itself began with a sense of drama. After the government lawyer had asked for more time to place the document in front of the court, Mehra produced it in front of the judges, saying it was leaked on Tuesday night itself.
The draft according to the government lawyer is not complete. However, a few members of the nine-member panel, constituted by the government to give its recommendations, have told Mehra it’s already complete. The lawyer, who has seen the redraft, also says there is no mention of an athletes commission and election commission, among other things. “The state Olympic associations have also been awarded voting rights, something that should never have happened,” he said.
The next hearing on the issue is slated for April 11 and 12.
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