The J&K government will constitute a Departmental Committee to review the Appointment of Outstanding Sports Persons Rules, commonly referred to as S O 12 of 2022 read with S.O.412 of 2023.
The Department of Youth Services and Sports, while announcing it, said that the committee would examine the relevant provisions of the rules, practical implementation issues and suggestions received from stakeholders and would make appropriate recommendations in accordance with law.
The decision to constitute the Committee, as per the department spokesperson, has been taken in light of various concerns and representations received by the Department in relation to the said rules.
The larger objective of the review, the Department has stated, is to promote fairness, transparency and merit in the appointment of outstanding sportspersons. The review process will be prospective in its approach and will not, by itself, cast any aspersion upon candidates who have been selected in accordance with the rules applicable to them.
As per the spokesperson of the Department of Youth Services and Sports, Minister for FCS&CA, IT, Youth Services and Sports, Science and Technology, Satish Sharma, had earlier listened to the grievances of a number of sportspersons on June 24, 2026.
Following this, a delegation of senior officers of the government met the protesting sportspersons and took detailed note of the grievances.
“While S O 12 of 2022 has been in force for several years and selections undertaken under the said framework have been processed in accordance with the rules applicable at the relevant time, the government has taken cognisance of the demand for a review of the existing framework,” the spokesperson said.
Reaffirming its position, the Department placed on record that the selections already made under the applicable rules were processed in accordance with the provisions of S O 12 of 2022 and the subsequent amendments and instructions applicable thereto.
“At the same time, the government recognises the importance of addressing the genuine concerns raised by stakeholders in a fair, objective and transparent manner,” the spokesperson said.
“All grievances and representations received by the Department concerning the selection process will be examined objectively and in accordance with the applicable rules and established procedure. No genuine grievance will be ignored or left unattended. Each matter will be considered on its facts and merits, without prejudice to the rights of any candidate and without compromising the integrity of the selection process,” the Spokesperson maintained.
He clarified that consideration of a grievance will not, by itself, imply acceptance of the allegations or any finding of irregularity, and appropriate action, wherever warranted under the applicable rules, will be taken only after due examination and verification.
The Department also reiterated its commitment to the strict and uniform implementation of the applicable Transfer Policy.
The Youth Services and Sports Department will undertake a review of the existing stay position of employees in the Department and take necessary measures for ensuring implementation of the Transfer Policy in accordance with the prescribed norms.
The exercise will be undertaken objectively, keeping in view administrative requirements, applicable rules and legitimate exemptions, wherever provided under the policy.
The government reiterated that its objective was to ensure fairness, transparency, accountability and adherence to the rule of law, while protecting the legitimate interests of all stakeholders.
“The Government also appeals to all the concerned to place factual and verifiable information before the competent authorities and refrain from drawing conclusions or making allegations before the prescribed processes of examination and review are completed,” added the spokesperson.
For the past two months, the sports persons had been protesting and observing an indefinite hunger strike for the past over one week in Jammu against the alleged irregularities in the final selection list for appointments in government departments under the sports quota.
The protesting sports persons were demanding a CBI probe into the irregularities, fixing responsibility on every official and individual involved in allegedly manipulating the selection process.
Objecting to the existing SO-12 list, they were questioning the fairness of the selection process, especially to the fact that four out of five gazetted appointments were made from a single category-B non-Olympic discipline and 72 beneficiaries belonged to one assembly constituency.
They were alleging that deserving athletes who won medals in the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Paralympics and other recognised international events were deliberately ignored or denied gazetted appointments and instead, preference was allegedly given to individuals from sporting disciplines that were not recognised in these premier international competitions.
About The Author
