Eleventh hour entry of veteran Olympian Manohar Topno in the Interview Board for the appointment of District Sports Officer (DSO) has led to the adjournment of the process by Sports Minister Amar Kumar Bauri. However, Sports Secretary Avinash Kumar and his sub-ordinates do not see anything objectionable in Topno's last minute induction.As players aged within 35 years were eligible for the recruitment, Topno's application for the interview was rejected since his date of birth is June 25, 1958. However, he was included in the Interview Board comprising Sports Secretary Avinash Kumar, Director Anil Kumar Singh, Deputy Director CP Kacchap, Jaideep Sarkar and an officer of the Personnel Department when Sarkar said that he would be unable to ensure his presence.
Sources maintained Topno was noticed taking the interview during the first interview phase of the eligible candidates on June 26. "Sports Minister was unaware about the replacement of a member by Manohar Topno. The moment he was informed about the issue, he declared to postpone the interview. Unless, an action is not taken against the officials allowing the entry of Topno, the interview is adjourned," Bauri's Private Secretary Ajit Kumar said."If a senior player except those who were rejected or considered for the interview was chosen as a Board Member, the process would not have delayed. Despite the odds, we are determined to appoint DSOs by the month of July," Kumar added. Bauri on the other hand said, "The next interview dates will be fixed after holding a meeting with Sports officials on Monday regarding the matter."
Nevertheless the decision irked Secretary Avinash Kumar and Director Anil Kumar Singh who maintained that there was nothing wrong in involving a rejected applicant who had shined the state's name decades ago. The Secretary rather questioned, "Is there any norm of not including a renowned state player in the Interview Board of DSO who for some reason was rejected for the same post as applicantIJ"When Manohar Topno was approached, he said, "I have been serving the State Government since long so it is my responsibility to follow the instruction of Sports Department."Notably, the first round interview was previously scheduled on June 23 which was deferred due to the visit of Sports Department officials to Patiala. The post of District Sports Officer is lying vacant in the 23 districts. Presently, Ranchi DSO Dalsingar Ram is the only DSO who is in-charge of all the 24 district.