SC junks plea for revocation of Sachin Tendulkar's Bharat Ratna award

The Supreme Court today dismissed a plea seeking revocation of conferment of Bharat Ratna to cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar on the ground of alleged misuse of the highest civilian honour.

A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and D Y Chandrachud said that there are no statutory provisions, rules and regulations which deal with the allegations that have been made against Tendulkar.

Petitioner V K Naswa has alleged that certain authors have written books describing Tendulkar as Bharat Ratna and they have also titled their book in that manner.

He had also alleged that Tendulkar after being conferred with the award has been participating in certain commercial activities.

The bench said, “In our considered opinion, what the petitioner intends to contend is that in the realm of regulation of conduct of an awardee which, we are disposed to think, cannot be gone into by this Court in the absence of any statutory provision.”

It said had Tendulkar written a book by using the words ‘Bharat Ratna’ as a prefix or suffix, the matter would have been different but when a third party writes a book, he can’t be held accountable.

“Had the respondent No.2 written a book by using the words ‘Bharat Ratna’ as a ‘prefix’ or ‘suffix’, the matter would have been different. When a third party writes a book, we have no hesitation in our mind that the respondent No.2 cannot be held responsible,” the bench said while dismissing the petition.

Naswa in his appeal had challenged the Madhya Pradesh High Court order of August 10, 2015 by which it had dismissed his petition without passing any order pertaining to alleged misuse of Bharat Ratna award by Tendulkar.

The High Court, however, had granted liberty to the petitioner to approach the union government with his demand if he wishes so.

Naswah in his PIL before the High Court had alleged that Tendulkar exploited the fame associated with the highest civilian award for “earning money by endorsing commercial products” and therefore it should be taken away.

He had contended that Tendulkar should return the award on moral grounds or otherwise it should be revoked.