Even as Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar stated on Tuesday that medal-winning athletes will be given government jobs based on the state government’s sports policy and that no jobs will be given solely on the basis of gradation certificates for mere participation in sports tournaments, his deputy, Dushyant Chautala, announced on Wednesday that the state government will soon restore the 3% quota for athletes in group A, B, and C government jobs.
Dushyant stated at Uchana Kalan that the administration is committed to strengthening sports culture in Haryana. He stated that he is unaware of any notification issued regarding the revocation of sports quota positions for participating athletes based on sports gradation certificates. In the interest of the athletes, he stated that reservations would be reinstated in the coming days.
In response to a question on Tuesday, Khattar stated that players who bring medals under the sportsperson quota will continue to be hired in the A, B, C, and D categories. However, he highlighted that the number of medal winners is lower under the ‘Padak Lao Pad Pao’ plan, but the number of players competing in the tournaments remains high.
Previously, government employment were awarded based on incorrect graduation diplomas, and incidents are now coming to light. According to sources, while there is no reservation for A and B category jobs for participating athletes with a sports-gradation certificate, the chief minister has decided to eliminate the 3 percent reserve in C category positions. The ten percent reservation in group D occupations will be maintained.
Haryana sports minister Sandeep Singh told the assembly last year that the state government had framed the Haryana Outstanding Sportspersons (Group A, B, and C) Service Rules 2021 by repealing the Haryana Outstanding Sportspersons (Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2018, following cabinet approval on February 10, 2021.
According to these rules, an outstanding sportsperson (OSP) cadre has been established to promote sports.
Under the new guidelines in the sports and youth affairs department, outstanding athletes will be appointed to Group-A, B, and C services based on their level of achievement in national and international events. They will be required to serve in the state’s centres of excellence, academies, and sports complexes.
