Karnataka HC ne Bengaluru ke decorated international para-swimming champion KS Vishwas ko cash award na dene par Youth Empowerment and Sports ke officers par exemplary cost impose kiya hai.
Court ne remaining Rs 1,26,000 cash reward amount and litigation cost ke roop me Rs 2 lakh ka additional amount release karne ka order diya, jiska bhugtan Department ke concerned Officers ko personally pay karna hoga.
Justice M Nagaprasanna ne apne order me kaha, “Jab koi nihattha vyakti swimming pool me koodta hai aur na keval jeetta hai, balki international stage par bhi jeetta hai, toh state se expect ki jaati hai ki wo uss spirit ko salute karein, na ki red-tapism se uske rights ka gala ghont dein.”
Petitioner 36 saal KS Vishwas ne 2016-2018 ke dauran kai international championships me nation ko represent kiya tha aur do silver and do bronze medals jeete the. Iss tarah, 30 November, 2013 ke Government Order ke according, jisme sports persons with disabilities ke liye cash emark kiye gaye the, wo Rs 6 lakh ke cash reward ke hakdar hain. Prescribed form me applications submit karne aur kai representation dene ke baawjood koi action nahi liya gaya. Petitioner ke counsel O Ashwini ne submit Kiya ki ye ensure karna state government ki responsibility hai ki disable persons ko Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 me enunciated equality, dignity and equal respect ka rights doosron ko tarah mile.
Doosri or, government advocate ne tark diya ki petitioner keval Rs 4,64,000 ka hakdar hai, jo use petition ke astitva ke dauran pay kiya gaya tha. Ye bhi tark diya gaya ki jis association ke through petitioner represent kar raha tha, use April 2015 aur June 2016 ke beech disqualify and suspend kar diya gaya tha.
Court ne kaha ki iss tarah ke submissions injustice ko chhipane me bahot kam help karengi. “Association ka suspension ya uske baad ka nirastikaran kisi deserving athlete ko uske rightful reward se vanchit nahi kiya ja sakta. “Cash prize isliye nahi diya jata ki athlete kisi Association se juda hai; balki ye sportsperson ke sporting events ke dauran kiye gaye efforts hain ki wo nation or state ke liye medals jeet sake, jo use iss tarah ke cash rewards paane ka hakdar banata hai,” Court ne kaha. Saath hi court ne ye bhi kaha ki focus bureaucratic technicalities par nahi, balki uss living human spirit par hona chahiye jisne colossal odds ke baawjood jeet haasil ki.
Justice Nagaprasanna ne kaha, “Sabhi sports equal hain; sabhi sports ke sportspersons bhi equal hain; unka effort bhi same hai. Ye unfortunate hai ki State keval kuchh hi sports ko pamper karta hai aur baaki sportsmen ko besahara chhod deta hai, jaisa ki unhone iss case me ak ko chhod diya hai. Isliye, Youth Empowerment and Sports Department ke concerned Officers ko personally accountable thahraya jana chahiye.”
