Vishal Bharti
Jammu, Nov 12: In nearly a decade, more than 20 persons were “politically appointed” in the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council– one of the highest institutions of sports in the Union Territory, sources said.
Reliable sources in the office of the J&K Sports Council here told UNI that from 2010 to 2019, total 21 posts were filled up “politically” by former politicians and bureaucrats including the chief minister, sports ministers and secretaries.
“Out of these total 21 appointments made by former politicians/bureaucrats, few have been terminated but still some are into jobs,” sources said adding that the present dispensation must find out whether they were alleged “backdoor appointments” or regularised in the Standing Committee under Constitutional provision.
Pertinently, many deserving qualified and eligible technically professionals are struggling hard to get employed in the department.
As per documents accessed by the UNI from office of the J&K Sports Council, in 2010, three appointments were made by the former minister filling up one post of the editor (Graduate with sports participation at lower level), photographer (10+2, photojournalist experience) and one instructor (graduate and certificate course in sports coaching).
In the year 2011, three appointments were made by the former Secretary and Former Minister. One groundsman: electrician (ninth pass), lady attendant (matriculate and medalist) and groundsman (12th pass) were engaged in the department.
However, in the year 2014, three appointments were made on contract based, comprising two coaches out of which, one was BP.Ed, one B.Com but both did diploma in sports coaching and one instructor with M.Com and certificate course in sports coaching.
In the year 2016, two appointments were made, one of Project Coordinator (M.Tech IT) and Project Coordinator (Master In Journalism) by the then Minister.
In the year 2017, five appointments were made by the former minister and the secretary to fill up the posts of Physiotherapist (Master in Physiotherapy), dietician (MBBS and PG diploma in Dieticis and Nutrition ), (Assistant Information Technology Officer (M.Tech Electronic and Communications Engineering), In-charge DCC Leh (B A, Certificate Course in Sports Coaching and outstanding performance in national/international championships) and an instructor (B A and Lower Level Participation In Football).
In 2018, four appointments were made including three of junior coaches (Matric, B.Com, Twelfth Pass) and one Technical Advisor was appointed, who was in B A First Year at the time of appointments with Pay scale 9300-34800-5200 GP.
“To be appointed as Junior Coach, the minimal qualification required is professional qualification (Diploma in sports coaching) as mandatory but at the time of these appointments, none of them was professionally qualified and were under graduates barring one,” sources said thus demanding that the government must probe the official record to ascertain the ground realities of these “politically motivated” appointments.
Meanwhile in the year 2019, the then Governor also appointed one Deputy Manager, who has attained superannuation.
“Most of the appointments have been made in relaxation of recruitment rules of the Sports Council and have duly been approved by the politicians in power as President, Vice President and the Secretary respectively,” sources added.
They said that some of the appointments were made against the posts which were not available at that point of time, but later on these posts have been created through the Standing Committee of J&K Sports Council.
“Some of the sanction posts even for distinguished sports persons were made in relaxation of the Recruitment Rules like of Managers and there is no such post of Technical Advisor borne on the establishment of the Council,” sources said and added that their salaries are being drawn against available substantive and resultant posts and on regular establishment budget.
“Some of these appointees have been disengaged but many are still continuing in the Council factually even not qualified for respective posts,” sources said and added that the government must appoint or nominate “fact checking” committee and the official record must be scrutinized.
“After J&K was created Union Territory and the department automatically came under the ambit of Union Sports Ministry, the deserving should at least get their rights,” sources said.
“However, besides such appointments, embezzlement of funds alleged by many players, undue benefits to blue-eyed employees, fraud in seniority list and other malpractices were highlighted time and again but the administration has not yet enquired these allegations,” they said and appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor to intervene and being President of the Sports Council by default—should act.”Pertinently, UNI previously had also raised the concern of promotion policy, shortage of coaches and alleged fraud in seniority lists in the J&K Sports Council. (UNI)
J&K Sports Council records 20 political appointments in a decade
