After a public outcry against the alleged spot-fixing scandal in the recently-concluded IPL season, the UPA government is planning to introduce the proposed bill, which aims to tackle match-fixers and others found indulging in illegal activities in sports, in the forthcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament.
With the spot-fixing scandal rocking IPL, the law and justice ministry is now working overtime with the sports ministry on the new law. Sources stated that the minister and senior officials of the ministry were working overtime to ensure that the proposed legislation is introduced in Parliament at the earliest. Union law minister Kapil Sibal had last month promised speedy enactment of the law to curb spot-fixing and other corrupt practices in sports. The minister is understood to have expressed his desire to introduce the bill in the Monsoon Session. The details of the proposed law were reported first by this newspaper on May 20.
It is learnt that the new legislation is likely to be an all-encompassing one which will deal with all sports activities, including cricket, and aim to stop any kind of illegal activity on or off the field. However, the new law will not have retrospective effect. The proposed legislation will define “dishonest practices” and will include any gesture or act which can change the course or outcome of a match or a tournament. Apart from defining the term spot-fixing, the legislation will deal with anyone trying to influence the outcome of a game.