Rakesh Kumar rejects J&K Sports Council's denial, says he applied offline under S.O.-12
Synopsis
A Paralympic medallist says he applied offline for a J&K government post in 2022 — and is now being told he never applied at all. Rakesh Kumar's dispute with the J&K Sports Council exposes a troubling gap: when recruitment is offline and records are disputed, decorated para-athletes have no easy way to prove they even tried.
Key Takeaways
Rakesh Kumar , a Paralympic Games and World Championships medallist, has rejected the J&K Sports Council's claim that he never applied under S.O.-12 of 2022 .
Rakesh says his application was submitted offline , making documentary proof impossible to produce after the fact.
The Sports Council maintains he was never before the scrutiny or selection committees and that his allegations are 'factually incorrect'.
The Council also alleged he sought 'backdoor entry' — a charge Rakesh has categorically denied.
Rakesh has said he will not immediately pursue legal proceedings but will seek other forms of help.
The dispute remains unresolved, with no independent review mechanism currently in place.
Paralympic medallist Rakesh Kumar has firmly rejected the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council's claim that he never applied for appointment under S.O.-12 of 2022, asserting that his application was submitted physically and questioning how he could reasonably be expected to furnish documentary proof of an offline submission. The dispute, which centres on the para archer's alleged exclusion from a government recruitment process, escalated on 12 July with both sides holding firm to contradictory positions.
What Rakesh Kumar Said
The para archer directly challenged the Council's narrative, stating that the offline nature of his application made it impossible to produce digital evidence. 'This matter happened in 2022. I had applied offline for appointment under S.O.-12 of 2022. How am I supposed to give a proof of my offline application? Had I applied online, I would have given proof,' Rakesh said.
He also pushed back against the Council's allegation that he had sought a 'backdoor entry' into the recruitment process, calling the charge entirely unfounded. 'They said I tried for backdoor entry, such was not the case,' he added.
The Sports Council's Position
The J&K Sports Council had earlier maintained that Rakesh never submitted an application under the relevant recruitment notification and was therefore never placed before the scrutiny or selection committees. The Council described his allegations as 'factually incorrect' and contended that he sought inclusion only after the provisional selection list had already been issued — a sequence it argued undermined the legitimacy of his claim.
Rakesh Questions the Council's Credibility
Rakesh drew a pointed parallel to illustrate what he called the absurdity of accepting the department's version without scrutiny. 'Today they're saying I never applied, tomorrow they'll come and say I never represented my country at events, will you believe that and agree to it?' he said.
The para archer, who has won medals at the Paralympic Games and World Championships, invoked his sporting record to underline why he had no incentive to fabricate his account. 'I'm a reputed athlete who won a medal for the country at the esteemed Paralympic Games and World Championships, why would I lie about this? I'm only asking for what I deserve,' he said.
Legal Action Not Immediately Planned
Despite the sharpness of his rebuttal, Rakesh indicated he was not immediately considering legal proceedings. 'However, I'll seek help and see what happens; I won't take this to court,' he said, leaving the door open for other forms of redress.
What Happens Next
The standoff over S.O.-12 of 2022 appointments remains unresolved, with the Sports Council and the para archer each maintaining irreconcilable versions of events. The absence of a formal grievance mechanism or independent review body means the dispute is likely to persist unless either party escalates through official channels. For Rakesh, the stakes extend beyond personal employment — the episode raises broader questions about how Jammu and Kashmir's sports administration handles claims from decorated para-athletes seeking government recognition of their achievements.
Point of View
Not personal. Offline recruitment processes — still common in government hiring across J&K and other states — leave no audit trail, making it almost impossible for an applicant to prove participation if the department denies it. That a Paralympic medallist finds himself in this position is not just an individual injustice; it signals a systemic failure in how para-athlete welfare is administered. The Sports Council's framing of this as a 'backdoor entry' attempt is particularly striking — it inverts the burden of proof onto the very person whose credentials are, by any measure, beyond question. If India's stated commitment to para-sport is to mean anything at the administrative level, disputes of this kind need a neutral arbitration mechanism, not a war of press statements.
NationPress
12 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the dispute between Rakesh Kumar and the J&K Sports Council about?
The dispute centres on whether Paralympic medallist Rakesh Kumar submitted an application for government appointment under S.O.-12 of 2022. Rakesh says he applied offline and was wrongly excluded from the recruitment process; the J&K Sports Council maintains he never applied and was therefore never considered by its committees.
Why can't Rakesh Kumar produce proof of his application?
Rakesh says his application was submitted physically rather than through an online portal, making it impossible to produce digital documentary evidence. He has argued that the offline nature of the process itself is the reason no proof exists.
What did the J&K Sports Council say about Rakesh Kumar's claims?
The Council described his allegations as 'factually incorrect', said he was never placed before the scrutiny or selection committees, and alleged he sought inclusion only after the provisional selection list was issued. It also alleged he attempted a 'backdoor entry' into the process — a charge Rakesh has denied.
Is Rakesh Kumar planning to take legal action?
As of 12 July, Rakesh said he was not immediately planning to take the matter to court, though he indicated he would seek help and explore other options to resolve the dispute.
Who is Rakesh Kumar and why does his case matter?
Rakesh Kumar is an Indian para archer who has won medals at the Paralympic Games and World Championships. His case highlights broader questions about how government sports bodies in Jammu and Kashmir handle employment claims from decorated para-athletes and whether offline recruitment processes adequately protect applicants' rights.
