Rules were followed for conferring Dronacharya award: Govt

The government today told Delhi High Court that every rule and due diligence was followed while selecting awardees for the Dronacharya Award this year and the decision to consider or reject any candidate was purely on merit.
"Every set rules and due diligence were followed. Selection committee for the award has given its recommendation purely on the basis of merit and there was no malafide intention involved," Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain, appearing for Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, told a bench of Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw.
The bench was hearing a plea of former wrestling coach Vinod Kumar, who was not considered for the prestigious Dronacharya Award 2015.

Kumar, who was the chief national men's team coach from November 2010 to April 2015, had claimed that he had earned more points for achievements of his wards at international tournaments than another coach, Anup Singh, who was considered for the award.
Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) had sacked Vinod as chief national coach in May this year after his performance as mentor was allegedly found to be inadequate during the Doha Asian Championship.
Appearing for Kumar, advocate Rahul Mehra contended that if the marks of candidates were considered by the selection committee of the award, then he was way ahead from other aspirants.

"All the information placed before selection committee were incorrect, false and fabricated. I was the only person among other candidates who had filed affidavits of the wards trained by me before the selection committee," Mehra said.

He said that Kumar was earlier conferred with Dhyan Chand Award and there was no provision showing that a person considered for one prize cannot be considered for others. Rather it advances his chances for other awards, he added.
The bench after hearing the arguments reserved its order and asked the parties to file written submissions.
The division bench had given a green signal to the

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to go ahead with the function to confer the prestigious award on the other coach Anup Singh but had made it clear that the conferment of the award would be subject to the outcome of the pending litigation.
Observing that the matter be disposed expeditiously, it had said that in the event of Vinod Kumar succeding in his case, the Sports Ministry will take appropriate steps in terms of the order, including conferment of the award.