Srinagar, Sep 4: The fate of 223 outstanding sportspersons selected for government service under the sports quota remains uncertain, with the selected athletes yet to join their duties amid an issue involving an individual candidate from Jammu.
The sportspersons, who were selected for government appointments under the applicable sports-quota provisions, say they are being made to suffer for a matter that does not concern their selection and have urged the Jammu and Kashmir Government to resolve the issue without further delay.
The controversy is linked to the case of Surya Pratap Singh of Jammu, an Asian Games medalist who, according to the sportspersons, was excluded from the selection process on what they described as “duping charges.” Singh subsequently staged a protest in Jammu seeking government employment, following which Sports Minister Satish Sharma assured him of a job.
The development as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust has reportedly created uncertainty around the appointment process involving the 223 selected sportspersons, leaving them unable to join their assigned government duties.
The affected sportspersons have questioned why candidates who have already been selected for government service should be prevented from joining because of an issue involving an individual candidate.
“What is our fault?” is the question being raised by the selected athletes, who say they completed the required process and earned their selection through sporting achievements but are now being left in uncertainty.
They argue that if the Government has found them eligible and selected them for appointment, there should be no reason to keep their joining on hold indefinitely.
The sportspersons have appealed to the Lieutenant Governor’s administration and the concerned departments to resolve the matter administratively and ensure that the appointment process of the 223 selected candidates is not held hostage to an individual case.
For athletes who have represented Jammu and Kashmir and the country and achieved recognition through years of training and competition, the prolonged uncertainty over employment has added to their concerns.
The sportspersons maintain that the Government can address any dispute concerning an individual candidate separately without affecting the appointments of those who have already been selected.
They have called for immediate intervention by the administration so that the selected athletes can finally join their duties instead of remaining caught in an unresolved administrative situation.
Repeated attempts to contact Sports Minister Satish Sharma for his response to the issue were unsuccessful as, as usual, the minister did not pick up the phone. [KNT]
