Supreme Court Criticizes HP Government's Employment Denial to Asian Gold Medallist
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New Delhi, Nov 28 (NationPress) The Supreme Court on Thursday criticized the Himachal Pradesh government for its refusal to provide employment to an Asian gold medallist under the sports quota.
A bench comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and A. G. Masih declined to consider the state government's request against the 2023 HP High Court ruling that mandated the appointment of Pooja Thakur, who secured a gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games, to the role of excise and taxation officer.
"Is this how you support athletes? A person who has won a gold medal at the Asian Games, your Chief Minister ought to have adopted a more practical attitude," the bench commented.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the Himachal Pradesh government's treatment of the esteemed athlete, the Apex Court noted that Thakur had to navigate bureaucratic hurdles for seven years just to secure employment.
In July of the previous year, a division bench of the Himachal Pradesh High Court opted not to interfere with the order issued by a single-judge bench, which instructed Thakur's appointment to the position in the Department of Excise and Taxation, Government of Himachal Pradesh, effective from the date of her application to the then Chief Minister, along with all associated benefits, including seniority.
The court stated: "It is exceedingly unreasonable for the appellants (authorities) to attempt to deny the benefits granted by the learned Single Judge to Thakur, allowing her to be appointed as an Excise & Taxation Officer in the Department of Excise and Taxation from the date she submitted her application to the then Hon'ble Chief Minister in July 2015, along with seniority and other consequential benefits."
The Himachal Pradesh government offers a 3 percent reservation for distinguished sportspersons across various departments.
