Income cut for players stands, says Khemka, ‘rules justify it’

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 8

Even as Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday put on hold an order cutting one-third income of sportspersons, the state’s Principal Secretary, Sports and Youth Welfare, Ashok Khemka, said his notification was justified and stood intact.

“I have not seen the CM’s statement and nor will I react to it on the basis of media reports, but the fact is that the notification was issued after due consideration and it is still in force,” Khemka said.

On the uproar over the April 30 notification, Khemka said it was a settled rule that no government servant could do any business. “If we permit a sportsperson in our employment to play in professional events where he makes money or allow him to endorse commercial products, there is nothing wrong if the government asks him or her to contribute a share for the development of sports.” 

Quoting Punjab Civil Service Rules, Khemka said these provided that if an employee generated income from any other source, the government had the right over it. One-third was the minimum the sportspersons were supposed to share with the government under such circumstances and the amount could go up to 50 per cent, he added.