Special bench to hear Arjuna awards petitions

The Delhi high court on Thursday set up a special bench to hear two writ petitions challenging the government's policy on national awards for sports, including the Arjuna awards.

The bench, comprising Chief Justice Arijit Passayat and Justice Mukul Mudgal, will hear the petitions filed by reigning Asian discus throw champion Anil Kumar and former weightlifter Braj Bhushan Singh, who have challenged the national awards policy, saying they are being "doled" out to undeserving candidates.

The Chief Justice announced the setting up of a special bench when the matter came up before him in on Thursday afternoon.

While Kumar has challenged the Arjuna award for lifetime achievement to former athlete and Sports Authority of India official Rachna Govil and gymnast Kalpana Devanath, Braj Bhushan Singh questioned the government's decision to confer the Dronacharya award on Bhupender Singh, who had been imparting training in power lifting for the past few years.

The petitioners have sought a stay on the awards to these sports persons, alleging they do not have any "credible achievement" to make them eligible for the prestigious honours.

Justice Mudgal, before who Anil Kumar's petition was listed, accepted government counsel Jayant Bhushan's request that the matter be transferred to the bench headed by the Chief Justice, as one of the writs is already listed before it.

Agreeing to his submission, Justice Mudgal said he would take up the matter with the Chief Justice as it involves a policy decision.