Cricketer denied Govt job via Sports quota; No relief by HC

The Bombay High Court today refused to grant any relief to a young cricketer seeking a government job through the Sports quota, saying it would not like to interfere in such cases.
"We will not give any relief as our interference in such cases will effect the independence of the authorities," Justices S C Dharmadhikari and R Y Ganoo said while rejecting a petition filed by Annirudha Sankpal.
Sankpal had applied for a government job through the Sports quota but was denied employment on the ground that cricket was not recognised by the Maharashtra Olympic Association (MOA) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

Sankpal had filed a petition challenging the order of Sports Directorate denying him the job. The Court had last month asked the authorities to reconsider their decision.
In October last year, a state electricity undertaking had issued an advertisement for posts of office assistants and lower division clerks in the sports category.
Sankpal, who had earlier represented the state in Under-17 national tournaments, had applied for the job and received an appointment letter dated April 24, 2012.
He also submitted certificates issued by the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA).
The recruiting organisation had asked the Secretary of the State's Directorate of Sports and Youth Services to submit a report. The Directorate replied that the certificates could not be considered as they were not issued by the MOA or the IOA. Sankpal has taken the plea that cricket was mentioned in the advertisement and hence he had applied for the job.