Files collect dust as sports quota sposes of Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar, June 18 (KDC): In a spectacular case of administrative delay, hundreds of special police officers (SPOs) admitted under the sports category in Jammu and Kashmir continue to wait for regularization as constables, despite a clear 2009 policy to make their absorption mandatory. According to these SPOs, this issue pending over the years has left them and their families in financial and emotional crisis, with repeated stay of major meetings connecting their crises.

A sports category delegation told Srinagar-based news agency Kashmir.com that J&K’s Home Department issued a spherical (No. Home/PB-III/62/G/2008 dated 25-09-2009), underlining regularization/rehabilitation of SPOS under Spos. However, implementation is married by bureaucracy obstacles.

He said that Range Police Headquarters, Baramullah in 2022 in 2022 additional Police Headquarters (APHQ) Eligible SOPOs for SPOs for many communications (ESTT/Spo-Sports/2022/10640-41, ESTT/Reh-38/2022/1527777777-78, and EST/AST/ASTT/REH-Reh-38, and The EST/ASTT/Astt/Astt/Astt/Astt/Astt/Astt/Reh-38 was sent to DIG Armed Kashmir for final approval along with recommendations and original documents of Range Level Committee (RLC).

However, according to him, a scheduled meeting (notice number Arok/6339–45 dated 03-07-2024) has been postponed several times to review these cases, leaving the SOPOs in Limbo.

Speaking anonymously, an SPO from Baramulla said, “We have served the department with dedication for more than a decade. We were promised regularization under the sports quota, but every time we receive hope, the meeting is postponed. Our families are suffering – this delay is unjust.”

Another SPO, a national level athlete, said, “If our sports achievements were given enough price to recruit us, why are they not enough to regularize us? Many of us are now overseas for other government jobs. Where do we go?”

The affected SPO has now appealed to higher officials, including the office of the Lieutenant Governor and the Jammu -Kashmir Home Department, and to intervene and direct the excavation armed Kashmir to hold a pending meeting without any delay. (KDC)