The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the sports authority that manages cricket in India is facing the prospect of extensive changes in its functioning after the Supreme Court of India accepted the recommendations of the Lodha committee. This ruling has also opened the door for the possible legalization of sports betting within the country.
Headed by former Chief Justice of India R.M. Lodha, the committee had been constituted by the Supreme Court (SC) to suggest measures to restore the credibility of the game and curb match fixing. The committee was set up in the aftermath of the 2013 match-fixing scandal in Indian Premier League (IPL) games.
In their judgement, presiding judges Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justice Ibrahim Kalifulla said that legalization of sports betting through an enacted legislation should be considered. Coming under the Public Gaming Act 1867 largely considered to be defunct, sports betting is a grey area in India and defined as a state subject.
In a statement, Vidushpat Singhania, a sports law expert and a partner at Krida Law said,
The judges agreed with the Lodha committee’s assessment that sports betting and match fixing were not the same and suggested that sports betting be made legal in the country. The SC has however left the decision to the legislative branch since the issue involves passing of a legislation which would require the involvement of the Law Commission and the Government.
According to the committee, match fixing interferes with the integrity of a match and attempts to influence the results of the match while sports betting is a general activity indulged by different sections of the society in various games and does not interfere with the game itself. The committee has asked that match fixing be made punishable by law suggesting a change in legislation to that effect.
The SC’s ruling has retained the current practice of prohibiting players, administrators, team officials, match officials and owners from betting. The ruling has also suggested that young players be educated and sensitized on the issue by arranging interactions with sports persons and cricketers with high levels of integrity.
Although all Indian states have laws in force regarding betting and gambling, the BCCI senior counsel said this was not enough to hamper the practice of match fixing. No legislative measure have so far been undertaken to address this issue.
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