The Delhi high court on Monday dismissed a petition challenging the Centre's decision to confer Padma Bhushan on NRI hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal. A bench headed by acting Chief Justice Madan B Lokur, after going through the original documents placed before it by Additional Solicitor General P P Malhotra, found no substance in the allegation that proper procedure was not followed in the case of Chatwal.
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Thursday said there was no political motive behind awarding Padma Vibhushan to Tamil film star Rajinikanth and it was purely based on merit.
Part of the problem with the Padma awards is that there are just too many. Instead of doling out 130 awards, may be the time has come to restrict it to no more than 30 -- five Padma Vibhushans, 10 Padma Bhushans and 15 Padma Shris. This would elevate the awards, even if it intensifies the lobbying, and reduce the scope of some gatecrashers getting in!
The 39-year-old gave birth to Krishna on February 20.
A day after the name of Goa-based fashion designer Wendell Rodricks was announced for Padma Shri Award, the local Bharatiya Janata Party unit claimed that the award may legitimise homosexuality, though it also congratulated him.
Deputy leader of the opposition in Parliament Gopinath Munde told rediff.com he would seek the help of Right to Information Act to find out who was responsible for according the Padma Bhushan Award to non resident Indian hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal.
"Choosing me at this age is like a joke. It is an insult to me," he said.
Embarrassed by India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh's failure to turn up for the Padma Shri awards last Wednesday, the government issued a notification saying National sports awards, like the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna, Dhronacharya and Dhyanchand, will be withdrawn if the recipient is absent from the ceremony without intimation.
He returned the award to protest against the 'gross violation' of government honours.
'I am grateful that this film has happened, it makes me so proud of the country and of the Indian Army.' Brandy Batliwala, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw's eldest grandchild, on the man behind the hero.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday awarded the Padma Shri award to Professor Noburu Karashima for his contribution in the field of literature and education.
The Indian women's cricket team captain Jhulan Goswami, former men's hockey team captain Zafar Iqbal and archer Limba Ram are among the sportspersons chosen for the prestigious Padma Shri award.
The Indo-American Arts Council's mission to promote Indian-origin artists in the US translated into a fashion show featuring several prominent personalities in New York on April 15. Take a look.
Genabhai Patel (52), a pomegranate farmer from Sarkari Goliya village in Lakhani taluka of the district, has polio in both legs but he did not let it become a hurdle.
She stressed that this was a 'purely personal decision'.
Ace batsman VVS Laxman and World champion wrestler Sushil Kumar were among seven sportspersons honoured with the prestigious Padma Shri on Tuesday for their contribution in their respective disciplines.
Shahrukh Khan, J N Dixit, R K Laxman, Azim Premji are among the 96 people who have been conferred with this year's Padma awards.
The Chennai-born Lakshmi reportedly told friends that she was bored with the writer.
Family of late Justice J S Verma has refused to accept the Padma Bhushan award conferred on him by the government posthumously, saying accepting it would be against his principles as he never "hankered" for any such honour.
In a touching letter, Jhulan Goswami expresses deep gratitude to Diana Edulji, set to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame.
Desi celebs came out to celebrate the Web series Never Have I Ever in New York City, wearing their fashion and culture proudly.
He said the plea of the Northeast people to not let the bill pass was not being heard by the Centre.
Noted Hindi writer Giriraj Kishore has threatened to return his 2007 Padma Sri and go on fast if government fails to stop this month's auction of Mahatma Gandhi's belongings and the blade of grass containing a drop of his blood following his assassination in January, 1948.
Elated for being selected for the prestigious Padma Bhushan awards by the Indian government, noted hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal on Tuesday said it was the recognition of his services in working towards strengthening of Indo-US relationship for the past several decades.
Yadav stuck to his guns, saying "Whatever I have said, I have said."
Noted journalists Vir Sanghvi and Pritish Nandy have revealed that they will be jointly filing a Right To Information application with the Central Information Commission (CIC) with regard to this year's Padma Award list and the questionable inclusion of Indian-American hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal in it.
The Centre's decision to strip police officers convicted of 'moral turpitude' of medals and awards fuelled a demand by an ex-woman Indian Administrative Service officer on Tuesday that the Padma Shri award be taken back from Punjab's former 'super cop' K P S Gill convicted for molesting her.
Against the backdrop of US-based hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal getting a Padma Bhushan, the Congress on Tuesday said these awards should be given to people who enhance its prestige and not to those with a "taint".
The committee has also recommended highlighting 'Hindu victories' in various battles in the textbooks.
A look at the top posts on social media from your favourite Bollywood celebrities.
India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh denied that he was forced to miss the Padma Shri presentation ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi on Tuesday because of his endorsements and advertising contracts. Some sections of the media slammed the bowler and India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni for giving the awards function a miss. 'If someone believes that I was in Delhi, and can prove it, I will quit playing cricket today itself.'
The director's close friendship with model/actress' former husband, writer Salman Rushdie may be just the reason.
On Monday night, when President Ram Nath Kovind presented the Padma awards at a civil investiture ceremony in the Darbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan, the loudest applause was reserved for Swami Sivananda, the 125-year-old yoga guru who walked barefoot to receive the Padma Shri -- after prostrating before Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi and President Kovind.
Baharla Ha Madhumas has made Sana Shinde a star, and Namrata Thakker takes a closer look at her.
Khali, who hails from Dhiraina village of Sirmour district of the state, shot into fame with his performances in US' popular wrestling events -- World Wrestling Entertainment. The one-time World Heavyweight Champion was honoured by the state government during his widely-publicised visit to the country in May this year.
Vani Jayaram's husband predeceased her and she had no children, the singer's domestic help said.
With Padma Lakshmi's svelte figure, it would be difficult to imagine that she loves food. But she balances both well.
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