Manoj Kumar’s name to be recommended for Arjuna Award: Government tells HC
Manoj Kumar had approached the Delhi High court earlier this week against a decision of the Sports Ministry.
The Additional Solicitor General also told the court that Manoj was not initially considered for the award by the committee of 11 members as they “mistakenly” believed that he was involved in a doping case.
Changing its stand on the Arjuna Awards nominations, the Central Government on Thursday informed the Delhi High court that it will be recommending the Boxer Manoj Kumar’s name to the Arjuna Awards Selection committee, and that the Sports Ministry will consider his eligibility for the award.
Boxer Manoj Kumar had approached the Delhi High court earlier this week against a decision of the Sports Ministry to not consider him for the prestigious sports awards. In his plea, Kumar had stated that the Sports ministry had assured him that his name would be included in the list of 15 atheletes under review by the Awards committee.
Appearing before the court of Justice Vibhu Bakhru, additional solicitor general Sanjay Jain, however, clarified that Kumar had got the same number of points as boxer Jai Bhagwan, who has been nominated for this year’s awards.
On the basis of the submissions, the court has dismissed Kumar’s plea for a stay on this year’s awards, but will continue to hear his plea to quash the constitution of the selection committee.
The additional solicitor general also told the court that Manoj was not initially considered for the award by the committee of 11 members as they “mistakenly” believed that he was involved in a doping case. He also informed the court that thereafter, a representation was made on the pugilist’s behalf after which the panel sat again, but without giving reasons, the committee rejected his plea.
On the basis of the ministry’s statement that Manoj’s case would be considered afresh by the committee and thereafter by the government also, the court disposed of the interim applications seeking stay of the Arjuna award ceremony as well as for reconsidering him for the honour. The court, however, listed the main petition seeking quashing of the selection committee for the Arjuna Awards for the year 2013-14 for further hearing on December 17.
The petition also sought “reconstituting of the committee for the Arjuna Award to include a majority of sportspersons as per the earlier scheme”.
The court on August 26 while issuing notice to the Sports Ministry had directed it to produce records on both the composition of the committee and the criteria used by the panel for choosing Arjuna awardees.
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