HC seeks Centre reply on NGO plea for Arjuna award to athlete

The Delhi High Court today sought response of the Centre on a Kerala-based NGO's plea against the government's last minute decision not to confer triple jump athlete Renjith Maheshwary with the prestigious Arjuna award in 2013.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice R S Endlaw, however, refused to pass any interim orders and also questioned whether the petition by the NGO on behalf of the athlete is maintainable.
The court also asked the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affair, represented by advocate Sumeet Pushkarna, whether on the basis of the athelete's achievements he can be considered for the award next year.

Pushkarna said the issue of awarding him Arjuna award next year will have to be seen by the ministry as the triple jumper was found to have used a 'scheduled' substance (ephedrine) back in 2008 and added that the NGO, Navalokam Samskarika Kendram's plea is not maintainable as the athlete has not challenged the Centre's last minute decision.
The NGO has sought quashing of the alleged 2008 dope test report of the athlete on the ground that the National Anti-Doping Agency has not been accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency and the "custody of the sample" did not satisfy the legal requirements.

Besides various other reliefs, the plea has sought compensation for non-conferment of the award. Maheshwary has several awards in various international events.
According to the petition, Maheshwary's name was in the award list released on August 14, 2013. On August 29, he came to Delhi from Chennai and stayed at Hotel Ashoka, along with other award winners, and participated in a rehearsal at Rashtrapati Bhavan for the function.