J&K High Court has directed the government to inform it about recommendations by a committee which was constituted to work out requirement of coaches in each sports discipline in the Union Territory, based on need and practice elsewhere.
A division bench of Chief Justice, Gita Mittal and Justice DS Thakur sought the information after perusing the status report filed byJ&K government.
According to the report, the government constituted thecommittee under the chairmanship of Principal Secretary Planning Developmentand Monitoring Department to work out overall requirement of coaches in eachsports discipline – indoor and outdoor games.
The committee will also determine the number of coachessanctioned and available and suggest how coaching can be improved given thevacancies available in the sports department.
The panel will also suggest a broad scheme for capacitybuilding/training of coaches on modern lines for next five years along with thebudgetary requirement.
Terming these issues very crucial, the Court said therecommendations of the committee should be placed before it by May 18 – thenext date of hearing.
Observing that in the report an extensive reference has beenmade to the availability of Physical Education Teachers at school level, theCourt however said this was not the only concern.
“The concern is to have specialised coaches and trainingfacilities available round-the-year to facilitate the development of sportspersonnel from the UTs of J&K and Ladakh and their attaining expertise andskills which would enable them to successfully compete in national andinternational competitions,” the Court said.
It said the coaching facilities need to be availableround-the-year as were available in several centres of the Sports Authority ofIndia in other states, UTs and cities.
“Let the committee also engage with several sportsFederations and Associations which are appearing before us and have offered toprovide all sporting assistance to the sporting activities in the UnionTerritories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. These include Athletic Federationof India, Badminton Association of India, Basketball Federation of Indiaamongst others” the Court said.
With regard to its direction On November 25 last year toSecretaries of District Legal Service Authorities (DLSA) to verify the claimsmade by the official respondents with regard to development and completion ofthe sports infrastructure and stadia, the Court said no report was forthcomingfrom the Secretaries.
“Copies of the affidavits and status reports filed byrespondents regarding the infrastructure projects which are under constructionshall be forwarded to the Secretaries, District Legal Services Authorities bythe Registry,” it said.
Senior AAG, BA Dar, on behalf of the SLSA, submitted that heshall ensure that reports were given by the Secretaries, information wasobtained from them and report in this regard shall be filed before the nextdate of hearing.
Advocate Masrat vice advocate Faisal Qadri assisted theCourt as amicus curiae while Additional Advocate General, Mir Suhail assistedby GA Sajad Ashraf represented J&K government, Tahhir Shamsi representedUnion Sports Ministry.