Bombay HC’s Kolhapur bench
Kolhapur: Bombay high court’s Kolhapur bench was informed on Sept 1 that the petitioner in a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a Padma Vibhushan for Olympic bronze medallist Khashaba Jadhav will submit a list of personalities who were conferred Padma awards posthumously, challenging Union govt’s contention that such honours were rarely granted after a person’s death. He was conferred the Arjuna Award in 2001, nearly 17 years after his death and almost 50 years after his Olympic success. After winning bronze, Khashaba joined Maharashtra police as a sub-inspector and served the force for 27 years, eventually retiring as an assistant commissioner of police. He died in a road accident in 1984.
Recognition for Khashaba came decades after his achievement.
Ranjeet, who has long campaigned for greater recognition of his father’s achievements, approached the HC earlier this year seeking the conferment of the Padma Vibhushan. During earlier hearings, Union govt had informed the court that state govt should submit a fresh nomination for consideration by the Padma Awards Committee, a process that has since been completed.
“Desai, counsel appearing for the petitioner, would dispute the same and would submit that a list will be tendered on the next date of the persons on whom the awards have been conferred posthumously,” the court recorded while posting the matter for further hearing in Oct. Petitioner’s counsel Sangram Desai disputed govt’s stand and argued that several Padma awards had been granted posthumously in the past.