Lodha reforms ought to be implemented across sports, says Justice Mudgal

Justice (Retd.) Mukul Mudgal also argued in favour of legalising sports betting while acknowledging that implementing a decision like that would be difficult for any government.

Mudgal is hopeful that the ‘Prevention of Sporting Fraud Bill’, drafted by the former Chief Justice after the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal, will be passed soon.

Justice Mukul Mudgal believes that the Lodha Committee reforms ought to be implemented across sports.

“The general principles contained in the Lodha Committee reforms can apply across the board. The Supreme Court judgment lays down the law of the land, wherein the principles contained are generic in nature. It ought to be applied across sports, not just in cricket,” Mudgal stated, on the sidelines of The Sports Law & Policy Symposium here on Saturday.

He added that in the case of cricket, the Lodha Committee reforms need to implemented quicker.

Mudgal is hopeful that the ‘Prevention of Sporting Fraud Bill’, drafted by the former Chief Justice after the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal, will be passed soon.

“The bill was given to the then government, but it has not been enacted yet. If it is enacted, at least some part of these problems become criminal offences. As it stands now, you have to apply Section 420, which may or may not be applicable. I hope that the parliament thinks it fit to implement the bill soon,” he said.

Mudgal argued in favour of legalising sports betting. “When betting is legal, corruption can be easily traced. Secondly, all the money - which now goes to the underworld - becomes white money. But I do agree that this is a tough decision for any government to make,” he said.