The Madras high court today dismissed a petition challenging Centre's decision to confer Bharat Ratna on cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and scientist C N R Rao.

The First Bench comprising Chief Justice R K Agrawal and Justice K Ravichandra Babu dismissed the petition concurring with the submissions of Additional Solicitor General of South India P Wilson.

The petitioner Kanakasabai, an advocate, contended that mandatory norms of presidential notification had been violated while deciding to confer the honour to Tendulkar and Rao.

Wilson in the written memo filed before the court contendented that the petitioner had not disclosed the fact that Presidential notification of January 8, 1957 to confer Bharat Ratna to persons who have rendered exceptional service towards advancement of art, literature and science has been amended by another notification of November 10, 2011, providing conferment of the highest civilian award to persons in recognition of their exceptional service or performance in any field of human endeavour.