HC rejects plea against conferring Padma Bhushan to Chatwal

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed a petition challenging Centre's decision to confer Padma Bhushan on NRI hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal.

A Bench headed by acting Chief Justice Madan B Lokur, after going through the original documents placed before it by the Additional Solicitor General P P Malhotra, found no substance in the allegation that proper procedure was not followed in the case of Chatwal.

The High Court had on March 25 asked the petitioner, S K Shah, to show by furnishing documents as to where has the selection committee failed to meet the guidelines while considering Chatwal's name for the prestigious award.

Appearing for the Government, Additional Solicitor General had submitted that following a Supreme Court ruling, a high-level committee was constituted to consider every aspect of all applicants before finalising their names.

"You cannot level wild allegations. There is a report of the committee which has already considered all the aspects...," the bench had said.

Shah, appearing in person, had alleged that Chatwal was involved in various economic offences.

The petitioner had earlier sought a direction to the Centre to rescind the decision to confer the award on Chatwal on various grounds, including his alleged involvement in several cases.

Besides Chatwal, the Centre and CBI were also respondents in the Public Interest Litigation.