High Court orders investigation into Special Olympics Bharat

After several complaints and allegations emerged against Special Olympics Bharat Tamil Nadu top official - J Paul Devasagayam - the Madras High Court has ordered a thorough investigation to be carried out on the issue. On Monday, the HC ordered a senior Tamil Nadu government official which comprised of a division bench of Justices - Vineet Kothari and C V Karthikeyan directed State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities B Maheswari to conduct the probe against Area Director - J Paul Devasagayam.

The ruling added that the body can take actions against Devasagayam under the relevant section of the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities Act and also appointed former DGP W I Devaram, who is the president of the Tamil Nadu Athletic Association, to supervise the inquiry and submit a report. He will also be required to formulate a report about the general working of Devasagayam to the court on the next date of hearing on August 20, the bench said.

Furthermore, an inside source told TOI reporters that certain senior officials within the Special Olympics Bharat organising committee practice undue favoritism while shortlisting candidates for selection. 

"They select and train the athlete candidates whose parents pay or for undue favouritism, whereby special sort of preference of selection is given to their wards while leaving deserving candidates in dark," A source told TOI.