SC says can't go into grant, denial of sports award

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The Supreme Court Monday said it could not go into the government's decision to hold back the Arjuna Award to triple jump athlete Renjith Maheshwary just before the award ceremony in 2013.

"These are matters which do not come in the ambit of judicial review," said the bench of Chief Justice R.M. Lodha, Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Kurian Joseph, as it declined to entertain the plea by Maheshwary.

As counsel Gopal Subramaniam pointed to the performance of his client in the international sporting arena in the last three years, the court said: "There are many who don't deserve but they get (sports awards) and there are many who deserve but don't get."

"What is a fundamental right? How the denial of a sports award violates the right of a sportsperson?" Chief Justice Lodha asked, as the court declined the plea.