Overview
- The division bench of Justices Madhav Jamdar and Pravin Patil, in an April 15 order, directed the Union government to decide by May 4 whether to confer the Padma Vibhushan on Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav.
- The court told the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Padma Awards Cell to file an affidavit by May 4 that sets out its decision on the posthumous honour.
- The bench noted it is undisputed that Jadhav was India’s first individual Olympic medallist, having won bronze in wrestling at the 1952 Helsinki Games.
- The petition was filed as a Public Interest Litigation by the Kusteeveer Khashaba Jadhav Foundation, founded by his son Ranjeet, after repeated representations to the government drew no response.
- The judges recorded that the Padma Awards Cell should consult the Padma Awards Committee, the Maharashtra government must assist if required, and the case will return for hearing on May 5; Jadhav died in 1984 and received a posthumous Arjuna Award in 2001, while the Padma Vibhushan is India’s second-highest civilian honour.