Govt. told to expedite framing of rules for national awards

The Delhi high court on Tuesday directed the Centre to expedite the process of framing rules on national awards, including the Arjuna awards, saying it is a matter of concern for all.

"The main concern for all is that proper rules for the awards are framed," a division bench comprising Justice Arun Kumar and Justice R C Chopra said, while allowing time to the Union Sports Ministry to complete the process by February 11, the next date of hearing of two writ petitions on the issue.

Reigning Asian discus throw champion Anil Kumar and former power lifter Brij Bhushan Singh had sought laying down of proper rules and guidelines for selection of sports personns for the awards.

They had alleged that the awards are being "doled" out to undeserving sports persons by the authorities in the absence of proper rules and guidelines.

Government counsel Jayant Bhushan told the bench that as per the court's earlier direction, the process for framing the rules is on and it would take some time to complete the same.

Senior advocate Amrender Sharan, appointed to assist the court in pursuing Anil Kumar's case said: "No sports person is in the committee constituted by the government to select the awardees, which reflects the unfortunate state of affairs."

Agreeing with his contention, the bench said it is really a matter of conern that almost all sport bodies in the country are headed by non-sports persons.

While Anil Kumar had also challenged this year's Arjuna award for lifetime achievements to Rachna Govil and Kalpana Debanath, Brij Bhushan Singh had challenged conferring of Dronacharya award on powerlifting trainer Bhupender Dhawan.

Both the petitioners alleged that the awardees had no "credible" achievements to make them deserving candidates.

The court had directed the government on September 28 to lay down a transparent policy on the national awards, while making conferring of the Arjuna award to Govil and Debnnath subject to the final outcome of the writ petition filed by Anil Kumar.

The government earlier had informed the court that the existing eight-member committee to select the awardees includes the Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, the Sports Secretary, SAI Director General and president of the Indian Olympic Association.

The Arjuna awards controversy