With the Union government keen on passing the National Sports Governance Bill in the Monsoon session, members from the Treasury benches suggested Thursday that it could be taken up for discussion and passage early next week.
The Opposition, which wanted the Bill to be referred to a Parliamentary committee for detailed study, may agree to participate in the discussions if a “middle path” is found to end the stalemate over a debate on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.
The Treasury benches as well as a section in the Opposition want the sports Bill to break the deadlock so that both Houses return to normalcy, sources said, adding that informal discussions have taken place on the matter.
“With the government having categorically stated that there will not be any discussion on the election process in Parliament, we have to find a middle path,” said an Opposition leader.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has told Lok Sabha that a discussion on SIR can’t take place in the House as the matter was pending before the Supreme Court and the rules did not allow a discussion on issues under adjudication.
“But a Bill such as the sports Bill and issues such as tariffs will have a far-reaching impact. There is a feeling among many parties that it will be worth discussing them even while keeping up the protest on SIR,” said a key leader in the INDIA bloc.
This leader felt the government could favour a debate on tariffs ahead of the arrival of US negotiators for trade negotiations on August 25.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, meanwhile, insisted that the sports Bill does not exempt the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from the RTI Act, but admitted that the Act would apply only if a sports federation uses funds or grants from the government.
The BCCI has always resisted coming under the purview of the Act arguing that it’s not dependent on government funds, unlike other sports governing bodies.
“The Bill has not kept the BCCI out of RTI. The amendments suggested are just to align the provisions with the mother Act (RTI). As long as government money is not used, financial matters of a federation cannot be brought under RTI. But all other matters related to the federation will be under the Act,” Mandaviya told The Indian Express. “Everything else, the functions, appointments and powers of every federation will come under the purview of the Act.”
When the National Sports Bill was tabled in Parliament on July 23, it had a provision to ensure that all sports bodies recognised by the Bill would be considered public authorities under the RTI Act. However, The Indian Express reported on August 7 that a clause — which stated: “A recognised sports organisation shall be considered a public authority under the Right to Information Act, 2005 with respect to the exercise of its functions, duties and powers under this Act” — has been omitted from the Bill via an amendment.
Opposition leaders protest against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. (Photo: PTI)
Sources in the government said they do not want to refer the bill to a Parliamentary committee and delay the process. “We want the Bill to be passed in this session. The government is ready to discuss it and the Opposition can have its suggestions,” Mandaviya said.
Leaders of Opposition parties have written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and urged him to refer both the sports Bill and the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill 2025 to a joint committee of Parliament.
Although the Bill was listed in Thursday’s list of business, sources in the government said it did not want the Bill to be passed amid protests over the SIR.
“There were suggestions that it could be taken up next week in the House or later before the Monsoon session ends,” said a Congress leader.
With INDIA bloc leaders set to hold a protest march to the Election Commission office on Monday, the discussion could happen Tuesday, government sources suggested.
“However, a decision on ending the stalemate and cooperating with the government for legislative business is to be taken after consultation with our allies in the INDIA bloc,” added the Congress leader.