SC dismisses plea against Padma Vibhushan to Dhirubhai Ambani

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a plea seeking quashing of a government notification conferring Padma Vibhushan on industrialist Dhirubhai Ambani.

"He (Dhirubhai) was known as the biggest industrialist of the country in his time. We are not here to decide who should get the Padma Vibhushan. If they give it to you, we cannot question," a bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justices D Y Chandrachud and S K Kaul said, throwing out the petition.

Petitioner Prakash Chandra Srivastava had moved the apex court challenging the May 25 order of the Delhi High Court last year dismissing his similar plea on the ground that no "public interest" was involved in the matter and the petition was filed to "malign" the person.

The petitioner had also sought a direction to Kokilaben Ambani, the wife of the late industrialist and founder of the Reliance Industries Ltd., to return the 'sanad' (certificate) and medallion of Padma Vibhushan which she had received on behalf of her husband.

Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award, was bestowed on Dhirubhai Ambani posthumously for his "exceptional and distinguished" service to trade and industry.

In his plea before the high court, the petitioner had claimed Ambani had not "rendered any exceptional and distinguished service" for which he should have been conferred the award.