Government on Wednesday submitted before the Delhi High Court guidelines for selection of sportspersons for the prestigious Arjuna awards stating that the performance in international competitions will be the basis for nomination and those who test positive for doping would not be considered. The guidelines, limiting the number of persons to be awarded in a year to 15 and enhancing the cash award to Rs three lakh, was submitted before a division bench comprising chief justice S B Sinha and justice A K Sikri.
Making a radical departure from the earlier criteria for selection, the guidelines said, the awards will be decided by a selection committee constituted by the government comprising a chairperson and 12 members distinguished in sports.
The chairperson must be a sportsperson of eminence and five members should be Olympians from different disciplines, it said adding that four members should be Arjuna awardees from different disciplines and two sports administrators with director/deputy secretary (sports) in ministry of youth affairs and sports as secretary. Asking senior advocate Amrender Sharan, who was amicus curiae in the matter, to file suggestions within two weeks on the guidelines, the court fixed may 29 as the next date of hearing.
Asian discus throw champion Anil Kumar and former powerlifter Brij Bhushan Singh had challenged Centre's policy on selection of awardees alleging that the awards were being doled out to undeserving persons.
Bureau Report