Joint Director’s Post: Only three candidates turn up for interview
Deepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 14
As many as three candidates of the shortlisted four appeared for the interview held by the UT Administration for picking the next Joint Director, Sports. A five-member panel, including Secretary Sports, Special Secretary, Department of Personnel, Director, Higher Education, and Director Sports under the chairmanship of the Adviser to the Administrator took the interviews.
Earlier, of the the total five who had applied, only four candidates were called for the interview. However, only Dr Mahender Singh, Dr Neelam Paul and Dr Ram Niwas attended the interview, claimed highly placed sources. “Three candidates attended the interview. The final selection will be made soon on the recommendation of the selection panel. The new joinee is likely to report at the department next week,” claimed a source.
Meanwhile, the UT Administration is likely to relieve Dr Sunil Rayat, the current Joint Director, Sports, on August 16. In February this year, Rayat had sought repatriation to his parent cadre of Himachal Pradesh. Rayat, the first ever Joint Director, Sports, from Himachal Pradesh, was appointed to the post in 2021. On his submission, the Sports Department had sent a circular to the nearby states, including Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, asking the interested candidates to apply. However, in April, the administration received applications by only two candidates.
Before the joining of Rayat, the post remained vacant for almost 20 months. Earlier, the post was looked after by KS Bharti, former DSO, under additional charge in 2015. Another assistant professor from a local college, Dr JPS Sidhu held the post for 14 years before Bharti. After Rayat, the department’s coaches were expecting their promotions to higher ranks. However, the Administration chose to call applicants from other departments.
Meanwhile, the post of District Sports Officer (DSO) has been lying vacant since November 2023 and no coach has been given the additional charge.
