Consider relaxation for outstanding sportsmen in jobs: HC

Legal Correspondent

Shimla, December 4

The HP High Court has directed the state government to consider the case for granting appropriate relaxation to outstanding sportspersons, who are entitled to appointment under 3 per cent reservation, and take a decision in this regard on or before January 31, 2021.

While passing the order, Justice Vivek Singh Thakur observed, “In order to achieve the goal and fulfil the objectives of the programmes such as Khelo India and Fit India, it is imperative for the government to provide relaxation in the minimum qualifying marks to the category of outstanding sportspersons also in the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET). Sports also teach people to take on-the-spot decisions under pressure and work out success strategies in dynamically-changing situations. Young people need to get used to this, because only winners perform their best under pressure”.

Justice Thakur said, “It is a reality that the overwhelming importance currently placed on academic marks and percentage has led to increasing self-isolation among young students, who live in ‘little boxes’ of their own and are sucked into a mindless, test-oriented rat race to get ahead in life. Most people confuse sports with either just playing, or look at them as a subject to be taught in classrooms, out of textbooks. In fact, sports are much more than either of these two things and they have to become a way of life to define and shape a young person what he can become”.

The court passed this judgment on a petition filed by Pooja Sharma, a sportsperson, who alleged therein that though she had participated in three National Handball Championships, the competent authority did not consider her case for appointment as a Junior Basic Teacher (JBT).

The petitioner had claimed her appointment against the posts reserved for outstanding sportspersons on the basis of the criteria provided in the rules, which provides that an outstanding sportsperson having at least thrice participated in a national championship and a senior national championship shall be eligible to be considered under the quota for such sportspersons.

While allowing the claim of the petitioner, the court directed the Secretary and the Director, Youth Services and Sports, to take all necessary steps and action for the inclusion of her name among outstanding sportsperson in the Department of Youth Services and Sports for employment.