SRINAGAR, July 6: The Jammu & Kashmir Sports Council on Sunday issued a detailed clarification on the recruitment of outstanding sportspersons under the Sports Quota, rejecting what it described as misleading reports and allegations circulated through media and social media regarding the implementation of recruitment rules and the eligibility of certain sports disciplines.
In a statement, the Council said confusion had arisen over the implementation of S.O. 12 of 2022, particularly regarding the recognition of Pencak Silat and Kayaking & Canoeing (Dragon Boat) for sports quota appointments, making it necessary to place the factual and legal position on record.
The Council clarified that appointments under the Sports Quota are governed entirely by statutory rules and government orders notified from time to time, including SRO-349 of 1998, SRO-376 of 2004, S.O. 149 of 2021, S.O. 12 of 2022, and S.O. 412 of 2023.
According to the Sports Council, these government orders collectively provide the legal framework for the appointment of outstanding sportspersons in government service by defining recognised sports disciplines, eligibility criteria, assessment procedures and the institutional mechanism for selection.
Rejecting allegations of arbitrary decision-making, the Council said it merely functions as an implementing agency of government policy and has no independent discretion in sports quota appointments.
It stated that all applications are scrutinised for eligibility and verification of sporting achievements before being placed before a High-Powered Selection Committee headed by the Chief Secretary and comprising senior officers from various government departments. Final decisions, it said, are taken collectively in accordance with the prescribed statutory provisions.
The Council also defended the inclusion of Pencak Silat as a recognised discipline, stating that the sport has enjoyed official recognition from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports since 2017 after its inclusion in the Asian Games. It said the discipline is governed internationally by PERSILAT and features in several major competitions, including the Asian Games, World Championships, National Games, Khelo India events, All India Inter-University Championships and the All India Police Games.
It further noted that Pencak Silat has also been recognised by the Government of India for recruitment of meritorious sportspersons in Central Government departments under the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) policy.
The Council said that in Jammu & Kashmir, Pencak Silat, along with Baseball, Netball, Triathlon and Ice Hockey, was incorporated into the sports quota recruitment framework through S.O. 149 of 2021, and subsequently included in S.O. 12 of 2022 and S.O. 412 of 2023. It added that the Indian Pencak Silat Federation has been registered with the J&K Sports Council since 2018.
Clarifying the status of Kayaking & Canoeing (Dragon Boat), the Council said Dragon Boat is a recognised event under the broader discipline of Canoeing, as confirmed through communications issued by the Sports Authority of India, the Indian Olympic Association, the Government of India, the Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association and the International Canoe Federation.
It explained that, like other disciplines such as Athletics, Gymnastics and Fencing, Kayaking and Canoeing comprises multiple recognised events conducted under national and international federations.
The Sports Council expressed concern that selective interpretation of government notifications and circulation of inaccurate information could mislead the public, undermine confidence in public institutions and adversely affect the morale of genuine sportspersons.
Reiterating its commitment to transparency and merit-based recruitment, the Council said every decision is guided by statutory rules, government orders and the decisions of the competent authorities.
It appealed to media organisations, stakeholders and the public to rely on authentic government notifications, official records and verified information while reporting or commenting on matters relating to sports administration, saying factual public discourse strengthens transparency while misinformation only creates unnecessary confusion.
