Imphal, July 12: Opposition Trinamul Congress today questioned the government on last year’s recruitment of women police sub-inspectors under the sports quota in the Assembly today.

Home minister Gaikhangam did not reply to the question raised by Trinamul Congress legislator Th. Shyamkumar Singh, saying the matter could not be discussed in the Assembly as a writ petition on the matter was pending in the Imphal bench of Gauhati High Court.

He, however, invited the Opposition member to come to his office chamber for a discussion on the questions raised by him.

Altogether 72 women sub-inspectors were recruited in January last year, five of whom were recruited under the quota for meritorious sportspersons. The selection process had begun in 2008.

Athlete Laishram Sanatombi, winner of national medals in events such as hammer and discuss throw, had also applied under the sports quota but her application was rejected, following which she filed the writ petition.

Before approaching the court, she sought information from related departments and officials under the Right to Information Act. Sanatombi Devi claimed that information received from the sports department and sports organisations revealed that the sports certificates produced by the five candidates selected under the sports quota were either fake or of unrecognised sport competitions.

She is demanding cancellation of the appointment of all the five persons and also an impartial inquiry into the recruitment process.

“Sanatombi is a recognised sportsperson who was given cash incentive by the government on Sports Day in 2004 and 2009. These functions were also attended by chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh. But she was not selected while candidates with fake certificates were recruited,” Shyamkumar Singh claimed.

When Gaikhangam maintained that he could not reply to the questions as the writ petition filed by Sanatombi Devi was pending in the court, Shyamkumar Singh wanted to know the criteria for recruitment of candidates in the police department under the sports quota, saying this would not be sub judice.

Gaikhangam, however, reiterated that the member should come to his office and discuss the matter. Shyamkumar Singh said irregularities in selection of candidates under the sports quota would demoralise sportspersons.