Excelsior Sports Correspondent
Srinagar, Sept 28: Despite repeated orders from time to time for ensuring availability of sports facilities in UTs of J&K and Ladakh, High Court today expressed its displeasure over the lack of facilities of sports infrastructure and directed the authorities to file a latest updated status report .
Hearing a matter pertaining to the augmentation of sports infrastructure in both UTs, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Puneet Gupta sought a fresh updated status report from the concerned authorities as regards to the constructions of all the sports stadia which were under construction and renovation as on date.
Court has also sought the status report mentioning therein the time line of completion of these sports stadiums in a tabulated form within 10 days. Advocate Faisal Qadri has drawn attention of the court towards one status report filed by the Under Secretary Youth Services and Sports J&K.
The said report makes reference to the proposed meeting of the committee constituted in March 2020 which refers fruitless outcome of the meeting. Another report refers to a meeting scheduled to be held on August 17 and makes a reference to a policy decision to be required which is to be taken up by the competent authority.
Court further noted that several orders passed from time to time ensuring availability of sports facilities can go a long way for bringing holistic and complete education as well as the healthy development of the youth in both the UTs.
However, the Court observed that nothing has been placed before it as to what has been proposed. The status report filed by GoI elaborately sets out the funds which have been provided at the central level for development of sports facilities in both the UTs.
Court said that authorities despite having funds have made attempt to take shelter behind Covid-19 pandemic situation. While the impact of pandemic, court said, cannot be disputed, however, it does not come in the way of the authorities in taking a policy decisions and planning and creation of facilities.
“The lack of interest and seriousness on part of the Committee can be visualized since inasmuch as one meeting of this specially constituted Committee takes place in March 2020 and in August 2020 without any fruitful outcome thereof”, DB said.
Counsel appearing for Sports department submitted before the court that lot of stadia which were under construction have been completed and have been used as Covid Centres keeping in view of the need.
Member Secretaries of SLSA and DLSAs have been directed to compile information in terms of previous order before next date of hearing.
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