International athlete receive award money on court directions after six years

International athlete receive award money on court directions after six years

Nainital, April 5

Justice Sharad Kumar Sharma of Nainital High Court has ordered payment of award money to an athlete from Uttarakhand who had won a gold medal in an international athletics event but was not fully paid his award amount.

Gurmeet Singh, an international level athlete had filed a Writ Petition before the Hon’ble High Court of Uttarakhand for non-payment of Sports Award since 2016 as per the Uttarakhand Government Sports Policy, 2014.

Gurmeet Singh hailing from Uttarakhand had won a Gold Medal in the  Asian 20 km Race Walking Championship held in Nomi, Japan in 2016 and participated in 20 km Race Walk held in Rome, Italy in 2016.

Irum Zeba, Counsel for the petitioner told the court that as per 2014 Sports Policy of Uttarakhand, the petitioner was entitled to a total sum Rs.1 1,00,000/- as Sports Award. However, merely half of that amount i.e. Rs.5,50,000/- only was paid to him till 2022. A prayer was made through the petition before the High Court for getting the remaining Sports Award. The Court taking a very serious view of such non-payment to a sports person, called the Joint Director, Sports, Government of Uttarakhand for a personal appearance in the Court today.

Justice Sharad Kumar Sharma observed that State should honor and facilitate the Sports persons who have represented India in International Games and such non-payment of Sports Award is arbitrary and unjust. The Hon’ble Judge  directed the payment forthwith in the Court itself.

Following the direction of the Court, the Joint Director Sports presented a copy of order of payment of the remaining amount of Rs. 5,50,000/- in the Court and promised the delivery of original cheque till tomorrow. The court disposed off the matter after the government assurance.