The High Court has directed Jammu and Kashmir Government to furnish details of the funds released and utilised under various projects for development of sports activates and the time line for completion of the projects.
While hearing a PublicInterest Litigation (PIL) initiated by the court on its own motion, a divisionbench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Sanjeev Kumar observed that itwas essential to have the details of the allocation and utilization of thefunds released by the Central Government to J&K as well as the budgetallocation for sports by the erstwhile State, now a Union Territory.
The court directed thegovernment to furnish complete details of the projects being undertaken underthe PMDP, Sports for Peace and Development and Khelo India Scheme including thefund utilisation and the time line for completion of the projects.
The direction followed after the court went through an affidavitfiled by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The affidavit saidJammu and Kashmir has received from the Central Government 17.20 percent of thetotal funds released in the entire country towards development of sportsinfrastructure and organising sports competitions in the States and UTs.
Observing that so far as allocation of funds isbeing done, the court said the Jammu and Kashmir has received extensiveattention at the hands of the central government. “Yet the position regarding the facilitiesand sports remains abysmal,” the court said.
While additional advocategeneral Shah Aamir represented the J&K government, Assistant SolicitorGeneral TahirMajidShamsi appeared onbehalf of Union of India. Advocate Faisal Qadri assisted the courtas amicus curiae
The affidavit further reveals that theGovernment of India was pro-actively exploring the possibilities of furtherdevelopment of sports and reviewing of the projects in Jammu and Kashmir.
With regard to thefacilities of coaches, the, the Court directed Secretary, Department of YouthServices and Sports to file an affidavit indicating the facilities availablefor training of coaches, the details of trained coaches available in all sportsdisciplines and an action plan regarding training of coaches in all sports.”Such affidavit shall be filed within a period of three weeks from todayfailing which the Secretary, Department of Youth Services and Sports shallremain personally present in Court,” itsaid.
The direction came after thecourt observed it as shocking state of affairs that Government of the UT wascompletely silent about the important matter of deficiency of trained coachesas well as training for coaches.
Dismayed over the defianceof its directions, the court said it has repeatedly called upon the officialrespondents to place before it an action plan. “Forthis purpose, we have on record assurances from several sports association thatthey would assist the local authorities in arrangement for training in alldisciplines of sports which are available in other parts of the country,” thecourt said.
Pointing out that Sheri-KashmirCricket Stadium has been lying in a dilapidated condition for several years,the court said the Government has made no reference about it. The courtimpleaded Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association through its Chief ExecutiveOfficer as party and issued notice to him.
“Issue court notice to thenewly added respondent without process fee which notice shall indicate that anaffidavit setting out the status of the said Cricket Stadium and the steps forits completion and maintenance is placed on record within two weeks from thereceipt of the notice”