Srinagar: J&K Sports Council’s three year term ended on June 22, 2025 and with that all eyes are now on who will be new Sports Council members and most importantly its new Secretary which is the most important post among all, as it acts as Chief Executive Officer of the Council.
The outgoing Council was constituted for a three-year term on June 23, 2022 under Government Order No. 21-JK(YSS) of 2022, issued by Alok Kumar, then Principal Secretary, Youth Services and Sports Department.
“The Jammu and Kashmir Government on June 23, 2022, reconstituted J&K Sports Council, headed by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha as its president and his Advisor as the vice president, after dissolving the previous body framed in the year 2018 in the Mehbooba Mufti-led Government,”.
In the year 2022, in the absence of an elected Government, the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor was the president of the J&K Sports Council. However, at present, Jammu and Kashmir is headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah as its president and Sports Minister Satish Sharma as its vice president.
As per the order number 21-JK (YSS) of 2022 issued by the then Principal Secretary, Youth Services and Sports Department, Alok Kumar, the Sports Council had 15 members, including the LG as president, the Advisor as vice president, five official members and eight outstanding players and sports association ‘administrators.
The movements for appointing new members and all importantly Secretary has started with various factions, persons lobbying for the various positions. However amid all this, the big question is, Who will be New Secretary J&K Sports Council or the current Secretary Nuzhat Gul will continue to hold the position.
Gul was appointed as Secretary as per Government Order No.93-JK(GAD) of 2021, Dated 30.01.2021. She was transferred from Secretary, Royal Springs Golf Course, Srinagar, holding additional responsibilities as the Managing Director-cum-CEO, Golf Development and Management Authority at Kashmir Golf Club.
The outgoing Council was constituted one year after her appointment and since then even the three year term of the Council ended but the Secretary is still holding her place. It may be longest ever continuous stay of any Secretary Sports Council at the position in J&K. Though there were instances of secretaries holding position on multiple occasions but in recent memory, it is definitely longest reign. Though there have been indications several times in past that she may get transferred but that didn’t happen.
However, that all is now in the past and current situation is totally different as the Council term has ended and demands for the appointment of new members are growing and so is for Secretary. As per original constitution of the J&K Sports Council, secretary used to be elected in General Council among the members appointed. However, that all changed since J&K was turned into Union Territory.
New Council:
The immediate attention from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Sports Minister Satish Sharma should be laid on appointment of Council members and bringing Council back in previous shape and order which included around 24 members, two joint secretaries and a secretary. If they are serious in the development of sports and promotion of sports persons this needs immediate attention and delay in forming will further harm the development.
Members are the corner stone of development and transparency. Unlike the outgoing Council members who mostly were rubberstamps for screening outgoing J&K sports teams, one expects new Council to be empowered one who will work sincerely and without any pressure. Members are also voice of athletes , associations and every persons who is associated with the sports so they should be chosen with extreme care and thought.
Who should be Secretary?
Definitely not any administrative officer, a new Secretary should be a person with sports background and high level of IQ with modern know how of Sports and technology.
Before the arrival of Waheed ur Rehman , J&K Sports Council wasn’t any prime department or position and it was considered lowly position among the Administrative officers. However, Waheed changed it totally, bringing it into limelight and also pushing his political stature via it. He was intelligent who knew how to make things work and at the same time had brilliant and easy going approach towards masses and athletes. That is the reason he is still admired by one and all. Though he also did few things wrong, but who doesn’t?. Overall he was best ever Secretary that J&K Sports has got till date. About the current Secretary one can make final assessment only when the tenure ends.
So in the backdrop of what Waheed ur Rehman Parra did at Sports Council and what this position can do for the person as well as the people around, it is expected that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will appoint Secretary after proper thought and deliberations. Whoever it will be, the person should be sports knowing, intelligent and people friendly.