The Madras High Court today directed the state government to relax the educational qualification norm for athlete S.Shanthi and consider appointing her as a coach in four weeks.
Justice D Hariparanthaman, allowing Shanthi's petition, said that "I am of the view that it is a fit case wherein the government could exercise its power to relax the qualification, taking into account Shanthi's experience in the field of sports."
He directed the State Youth Welfare and Sports Development Authorities and the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) to consider her for appointment within four weeks.
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As per an April 29 notification, government with a view to filling 38 vacancies of coaches called for applications.
The educational qualification was a bachelor's degree and a diploma/certificate in coaching besides that the candidates applying must have participated in the national level games and competitions representing Tamil Nadu.
In her petition, Shanthi said she met IAS officer Shambhu Kallolikar, who was member-secretary of SDAT at that time, requesting relaxation of academic qualifications as a special case. Though he responded to her request positively, he was transferred last month.
She said she could not be appointed a coach at present since she does not possess the prescribed qualification - a degree.
