Civilian Awardees Can't Use "Padma Shri, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan Or Bharat Ratna" As Prefix To Their Names: Bombay High Court

The civilian awards such as Padma Shri, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Bharat Ratna cannot be used as a prefix or suffix to the names of the awardees, the Bombay High Court reiterated recently.

Single-judge Justice Somasekhar Sundaresan while dealing with a petition involving a 2014 awardee Dr Sharad Hardikar, noted that he had used "Padma Shri" as a prefix to his name in the title of the case.

The title of the case read 'Padma Shree Dr Sharad M Hardikar' to which the court took an exception.

"Purely as an incidental point, taking cognisance of the manner in which one of the parties has been named in the title in these proceedings, it is the duty of this Court to draw attention to a five-judge Constitution Bench decision of the Supreme Court delivered way back in 1995, that civilian awards such as Padmashri and Bharat Ratna are not titles and ought not to be used as prefix or suffix to names of the awardees," the judge observed in the order passed on December 9.The judge while emphasising strict compliance to the orders of the Supreme Court, said, "I need say nothing more than to direct that the parties shall ensure that they comply with the law declared by the Supreme Court in the conduct of proceedings and the courts too ensure that this is complied with in terms of Article 141 of the Constitution of India."

The judge was hearing a writ petition filed by one Dr Trimbak Dapkekar who had impugned an order of a Joint Charity Commissioner in a dispute pertaining to the meeting of a trust. The petition was disposed of by the judge.

Appearance:

Advocate Akshay Kulkarni appeared for the Petitioner.

Assistant Government Pleader VS Nimbalkar represented the State.

Case Title: Dr Trimbak V Dapkekar vs Padma Shree Dr Sharad M Hardikar (Writ Petition 5216 of 2024)

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