Chandigarh: Sports joint director seeks repatriation to Himachal Pradesh

Chandigarh, February 14

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Much to embarrassment of the local administration, the UT Sports Department is once again going to face trouble on appointments. The joint director sports (JDS) has sought repatriation to his parent cadre Himachal Pradesh.

Dr Sunil Rayat, the first ever JDS from Himachal Pradesh, was appointed to the post in 2021.

His contract was for a year, extendable up to three years. Before his joining, the post remained vacant for a period of almost 20 months — a precedent set by the administration before choosing an officer from other departments or states to the post.

Sources said Rayat had requested for his transfer to Himachal by submitting a three-month notice that will end this month. As the Model Code of Conduct for the general election is expected to come to force by next month, the new appointment is expected to linger-on further.

“Yes, the department has received his request. And, the replacement process will start soon. The Model Code of Conduct has nothing to do with the appointment, if the process has already started. The file will be moved to higher authorities, and the next step will be followed after getting the necessary approvals,” a senior functionary said on condition of anonymity.

This is the second such incident in the past few months. Last November, authorities didn’t extend the contract of the former District Sports Officer (DSO), DS Mehta, and the post has been lying vacant since then. Instead of starting the process to fill the vacant seat at the earliest, the department is struggling to get necessary approvals from higher authorities.

Even before Rayat’s joining, the administration jostled hard to get a JDS. Interestingly, after the removal of former JDS, Dr Mahender Singh, (who was an assistant professor at that time, and now Principal, Government College of Yoga Education and Health, Sector 23), it was for the first time that the administration sought applications from Himachal Pradesh, along with Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.

Prior to giving charge to Singh (in 2017), the post remain vacant for nine months, and KS Bharti, the former DSO, joined as JDS under additional charge in 2015.

Another assistant professor from a local college, Dr JPS Sidhu held the post for 14 years before Bharti— which was supposed to be a makeshift arrangement till the time the administration appoints a regular JDS.

In all these years, the administration failed to find a permanent solution to fill both posts (DSO and JDS) through a regular appointment, or promote local coaches (under additional charge).

Implementation of rules

Interestingly, while making appointments in these posts, the department used to consider Rule 8 (i) of the Punjab State Sports Rules, 1993. However, in 2022, the Central Service Rules were implemented in Chandigarh.

And, since then, no initiative was taken to implement its clauses in the department.

Sources said under the new rules, the post of the DSO may be abolished and could be upgraded to that of the Deputy Director. Ironically, last year, the department framed its own sports policy that focused mainly on providing huge cash prizes.

However, it didn’t mention any guidelines on appointments at top level. “The Administration is under process of framing recruitment rules in all the departments. Lets see how things work in future,” added the officer.