Chandigarh, Feb 22: The Haryana Human Rights Commission has called for a comprehensive structural audit of all sports nurseries following the death of a national-level basketball player in Rohtak. The move comes after the commission found initial administrative reports regarding the November incident to be insufficient and lacking in substantive detail concerning safety standards.
The victim, Hardik Rathi, died during a training session when an iron basketball pole collapsed at a facility in Lakhan Majra. Justice Lalit Batra, Chairperson of the HHRC, declared that the incident transcends a mere accident, raising fundamental questions about administrative accountability and public safety. He affirmed that it is the state’s constitutional obligation to provide safe environments for young athletes, especially given Haryana’s significant investment in sporting excellence.
The commission has now mandated the creation of an inquiry committee including a senior structural engineer and a national-level sportsperson. This committee will determine the precise cause of the pole’s failure and examine if approved designs were followed during construction. “The state must fix responsibility on the engineers or officials involved,” the commission maintained in its February 11 order.
In addition to the investigation, the HHRC asserted that the government must formulate a uniform mechanism for third-party structural certifications. Officials noted that the commission is also seeking a structured policy for compensation to support families of deceased or injured players. The Director General of Sports and Youth Affairs has been directed to submit a pending detailed report expeditiously as the commission prepares for its upcoming May hearing.
