The recruitment of 225 coaches by the Punjab Sports Department has hit a roadblock. Acting on a petition filed by 37 coaches working under the Punjab Sports Department, Justice Surya Kant of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today ruled the selection process would not be initiated till the issues raised are resolved.
Disposing of the petition filed through counsel HC Arora, Justice Surya Kant observed the petitioners have raised a “serious issue” that the selection criteria mentioned in the advertisement issued by the Subordinate Services Selection Board, Punjab is in violation of the provisions contained in “Punjab Sports (Group-C) Service Rules, 2001”.
Justice Surya Kant directed the Secretary, Sports, to treat the civil writ petition as a representation by the petitioners, and decide all the issues raised in it by passing a speaking order, and till then selection process shall not be started.
Justice Surya Kant also directed that in case Secretary, Sports, came to the decision that petitioners have raised valid point, a corrigendum to the already released advertisement shall have to be issued for changing the selection criteria.
In case the points raised by petitioners are not found acceptable, the speaking order passed shall have to be communicated to the petitioners.
The coaches, engaged by the sports department through a private agency in 2008, had stated that during the previous two-and-a-half years, they played a vital role in several international matches, including the four-nation hockey league, and the word kabaddi cup in addition to the inter-state matches and sports meets. — TNS
