*J&K Sports Council Rejects Para Archer Rakesh Kumar’s Allegations on S.O.-12 Recruitment*
*Says Athlete Never Applied Under S.O.-12 of 2022, Claims of Unfair Exclusion 'Factually Incorrect'; Warns of Legal Action Against Misleading Information*
Srinagar, July 12: The Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council on Sunday rejected allegations made by Para Archer Rakesh Kumar regarding his alleged exclusion from the recruitment process under S.O.-12 of 2022, asserting that the athlete had never applied for the advertised posts and, therefore, his candidature was never available for consideration.
J&K Sports Council Spokesperson in a statement issued here to news agency JKNS said, It has come to the notice that certain statements attributed to Mr. Rakesh Kumar, Para Archer, have been circulated through various media platforms alleging that he was unfairly excluded from the selection process for appointment under S.O.-12 of 2022 governing the appointment of Outstanding Sportspersons. These assertions are factually incorrect and require immediate clarification in the interest of maintaining transparency and public confidence.
It is categorically stated that, as per the official records maintained by the Department, Mr. Rakesh Kumar never submitted an application pursuant to the notification inviting applications for appointment under S.O.-12 of 2022. Consequently, his candidature was never available for scrutiny or consideration by the duly constituted Scrutiny Committee or Selection Committee, it reads.
The recruitment process was conducted in a transparent and rule-bound manner. Upon scrutiny of all applications received within the prescribed period, the General Merit List was published by the Youth Services & Sports Department, Civil Secretariat, J&K, on 19 July 2024 and placed in the public domain for a period of 15 days, specifically to invite objections, corrections, or grievances from applicants and other stakeholders, spokesperson said.
During this objection period, Mr. Rakesh Kumar neither submitted any objection nor raised any grievance alleging his exclusion from the General Merit List, despite the Department providing an adequate opportunity to all concerned persons to point out any omission or discrepancy, it reads.
It was only after the selection process had substantially progressed and the Provisional Selection List was issued on 11 February 2026 that Mr. Rakesh Kumar submitted a representation seeking inclusion by way of backdoor entry in the selection process. Such a request could not legally be entertained since he had never applied under the recruitment notification. It is a settled principle of every recruitment process that consideration for appointment is contingent upon submission of a valid application within the prescribed time and in accordance with the notified procedure. A person who has not applied pursuant to the advertisement cannot claim consideration for selection as a matter of right, statement reads.
In these circumstances, the allegations that Mr. Rakesh Kumar was “excluded” from the selection process are wholly unsupported by the official record. The issue is not one of exclusion, but rather of non-participation in the recruitment process, it reads.
The Department & Sports fraternity respects the achievements and contributions of every sportsperson, including distinguished athletes.
However, public statements concerning official recruitment processes must be based on accurate and verifiable facts. Dissemination of incorrect information regarding a transparent statutory recruitment process has the potential to mislead the public, create unwarranted confusion, and undermine confidence in institutional processes, it reads.
That the recruitment under S.O.-12 of 2022 was undertaken strictly in accordance with the applicable Rules, after scrutiny by the competent committees constituted for the purpose, it reads.
The Department reserves its right to take such action as may be permissible under law against any person found to be knowingly disseminating false or misleading information concerning official proceedings, with the object or effect of causing unwarranted public confusion or obstructing the orderly functioning of the recruitment process, statement reads.
The it is once again requested to all stakeholders and members of the sporting fraternity to rely only on official communications and authenticated records while commenting upon matters of public importance, spokesperson said. (JKNS)
