Should Govt employees be part of Sports Associations

Rajesh Dhar
JAMMU, Mar 5: ‘BCCI-Lodha Commission’ is presently the most debated, discussed and outspoken topic of discussion throughout the masses in the sports community. ‘Supreme Court’s Verdict and Lodha recommendation’ is the slogan of the day.
Yes, after the highest Court in the Country passed an order on the recommendations of the Lodha Commission with regard to transparent and smooth running of the BCCI affairs, everybody is waiting in the wings to see as to how the State Cricket Associations are to be streamlined.
Apart from many other recommendations, Justice Lodha has also reservation for Civil Servants to be office bearers of the healthy and wealthy Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Now, it is not only the BCCI, but all the Sports Federations and State Sports Associations, which, because of the Government interventions, are believed to have reservations against Government employees for being their office bearers.
Sources said that the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, earlier during the Governor’s Rule had issued a circular restricting Government employees from holding the posts in various Sports Associations, adding that the order has not been implemented in letter and spirit.
Sources further added that some of the employees have resigned from the posts of the office bearers, some are still holding the posts and most of them, despite their resignations from the posts of office bearers, are running the affairs of the Associations behind the curtain.
“The Sports Ministry of the State in a high level meeting recently, after thorough discussions and deliberations, has decided (though did not issue any circular yet) to allow Govt employees to work for the Sports Associations for good health of sports and games in the State,” sources added.
Sources close to the elitist Sports Organisation of the State-the Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council said that most of the mega sporting events organized in the State are being held with the involvement of big number of Govt employees, especially the employees with sports background, outstanding sportspersons and the employees from the Department of Youth Services and Sports.
“The State Government is appointing a good number of outstanding sportspersons in Government Departments/ Organizations almost every year with an aim to promote sports in the State. If these employees would not be part of Sports Associations or other such Organizations, they will not be able to justify their appointments,” said an employee appointed under SRO-349 while expressing anonymity.
Sources said that as per rule 53-B of Civil Services Rules (CSR), sportspersons (working in Government departments) representing State in the capacity of players, coaches, managers or trainers, are due for Special Casual Leave (State Duty) for a period of one month and if their duty period exceeds one month, they are treated on casual leave for those days and if it exceeds one and a half month, then earned leave comes into force.
However, sources further said that the Heads of the Departments/ Institutions sometimes make mess of the things by depriving these employees from their constitutional right of State Duty, adding that there is dire need to honour Rule 53-B of Civil Services Rules (CSR).
Now, should Govt employees be part of Sports Associations’ is a million dollar question?
Experts reckon that the Government employees ought to be part of the Sports Associations, but should not hold any post wherein they are on roll for monetary benefits, however, they should not be debarred from their due benefits as coaches, managers, trainers or, in whatever capacity they work for the Associations. They further believe that the services of the sportspersons in Government jobs are always needed for successful conduct of the sporting extravaganzas in order to promote sports and games in the State.
When contacted and asked as to whether the Government employees should be part of the Sports Associations, Secretary Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council, Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra said that there is already a discussion on over this issue in the Government and we hope that the guidelines regarding the issue are circulated soon.
“We have around 60 coaches in various sports disciplines employed with Sports Council. And, at the same time, we have to organize sports activities in around 60 disciplines. So, it is not always possible to hold too many activities with the availability of number of lesser field staff. For that matter, the services of outstanding sportspersons, expert organizers and sports enthusiasts are always needed. Thus, utilizing services of Government employees should not be an exception. Moreover, the services of outstanding sportspersons need to be utilized properly,” expressed Mr Parra.

Follow our WhatsApp channel