NEW DELHI: Following the uproar over the controversial circular that ordered Haryana athletes to part one-third of their income and deposit it with the government, chief minister ML Khattar has asked it to be put on hold.
“I have asked for the relevant file of Sports Department to be shown to me and the notification to be put on hold till further orders. We are proud of immense contribution by our sports persons and I assure them of a just consideration of all issues,” Khattar posted on his official Twitter handle.
Haryana government had issued a bizarre order asking the state athletes to deposit one-third of income + from their respective disciplines and endorsements to the Haryana State Sports Council. The said amount, it claimed, will be used for the development of sports in the state.
“One-third of the income earned by the sportsperson from professional sports or commercial endorsements will be deposited with the Haryana State Sports Council. The money will be used for the development of sport in the State,” the notification, released by the Sports and Youth Affairs Department of the Haryana government, dated 30th April, 2018, said.
The circular has been undersigned by Ashok Khemka, Principal Secretary to Government of Haryana (Sports and Youth Affairs Department).
Athletes employed in any department of the Haryana government will be given extraordinary leave without pay. It further states that if “the sportsperson is treated on duty with the prior approval of the competent authority while taking part in professional sports or commercial endorsements, the full income earned by the sportsperson on this account will be deposited with the Haryana State Sports Council.”
Prasanta Patnaik