Kerala HC junks PIL against Padma Bhushan award to Vellappally Natesan

Kochi: High court on Wednesday dismissed a PIL challenging the Union govt’s decision to confer the Padma Bhushan on SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan.HC was considering a petition by Sree Narayana Dharma Prabodhana Samrakshana Samithi, a registered trust based in Kollam, alleging that the Union govt had conferred the Padma Bhushan for 2026 on Natesan without considering the criminal cases pending against him.

The petitioner argued that conferring such a prestigious honour on an undeserving person would erode public faith in the Padma awards.Dismissing the plea, a bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice V M Syam Kumar observed that the trial had not commenced in any of the criminal cases pending against Natesan and that proceedings in one of the cases had been stayed by the Supreme Court. Mere registration of an FIR cannot be a relevant factor for rejecting a candidate, especially when the person has rendered exceptional service in his field and has made lifetime achievements, the court said.During hearing, the Union govt filed a counter affidavit detailing the process followed before the nomination. Referring to the affidavit, HC observed that the Padma award committee’s mandate is to assess an individual’s lifetime achievements while considering nominations. Since there was no allegation that Natesan lacked achievements warranting consideration, the committee was entitled to consider his accomplishments and recommend him for the award.

The court further observed that, under the relevant statutes and rules governing the Padma awards, the President of India has the power to cancel or annul an award conferred on any person. In such an event, the recipient’s name is removed from the register and the decoration has to be surrendered. HC added that if Natesan is ultimately convicted in any of the pending criminal cases, the Union govt would be at liberty to consider annulling the Padma Bhushan.

At present, however, there is no reason to interfere with the conferment of the award.