Srinagar, Sep 03 (KNS): The Jammu and Kashmir administration's decision to appoint 223 sportspersons under the sports quota has sparked fresh demands, with the athletes' association on Thursday urging the government to issue appointment letters within 15 days, nearly three months after the selection was publicly acknowledged.
The Office of the Lieutenant Governor had on June 10 congratulated the selected sportspersons for their achievements and contribution to the Union Territory and the nation. However, the delay in issuing formal appointment letters has left the candidates in a state of uncertainty, the association said in a statement issued to news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS).
"We welcome the recognition, but congratulations alone are not enough. If 223 sportspersons have been selected for government service, why are their appointment letters still pending?" the association said in a statement.
The athletes have already spent years representing Jammu and Kashmir and the country, and many have completed the selection process after fulfilling the required criteria. They cannot be kept waiting indefinitely, it added.
The association has demanded that the administration, the Sports Department, and all authorities responsible for implementing S.O. 12 of 2022 issue the appointment letters within a fortnight.
"If any individual case requires additional verification or completion of a specific legal or administrative formality, the government should clearly identify such cases and publicly explain the reason for the delay.
Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThe entire list of 223 candidates should not be kept waiting because of unresolved individual cases," the statement read.
Other demands include completion of pending verification formalities on an urgent basis, publishing a clear status of the appointment process, and transparently disclosing any legal or administrative obstacles.
The association also called for fixing individual responsibility and establishing a time-bound mechanism to complete the process.
"The government has already recognised these sportspersons as deserving candidates. Now it must convert that recognition into action. 223 sportspersons have earned their place through talent, hard work and years of sacrifice. They are asking for appointment letters — not another congratulatory message," it added.
An appeal has been made to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and the administration for personal intervention to ensure the long-pending appointments are completed within 15 days.
The selection process under S.O. 12 of 2022 has been under scrutiny, with the Sports Department recently constituting a committee to review its provisions and implementation. However, the association maintained that the process was transparent and merit-based. (KNS)
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