Take decision by May 4 on Padma Vibhushan (posthumous) for Khashaba Jadhav: HC tells Centre

Kolhapur: The Bombay high court's Kolhapur bench has directed the central govt to "take an appropriate decision on or before May 4" on conferring Padma Vibhushan (posthumous) on wrestling legend late Khashaba Jadhav, India's first individual Olympic medalist."The State Government, if required, to comply with any requirements expeditiously," the bench of Justice Madhav Jamdar and Justice Pravin Patil said on April 15 while posting the matter for next hearing on May 5."It is undisputed that Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav is India's first individual Olympic medalist," the bench noted while hearing a PIL filed by Kusteeveer Khashaba Jadhav Foundation, set up by the legendary wrestler's son, Ranjeet, after his father passed away in 1984.The PIL seeks the HC's directions to the Union of India, through Ministry of Home Affairs (Padma Awards Cell), in consultation with Padma Award Committee, which too is made party to the PIL, to consider and decide afresh the representation, nominations and recommendations made for posthumous conferment of Padma Vibhushan upon Khashaba Jadhav, in accordance with the law and official criteria governing the Padma Awards.Ranjeet Jadhav had earlier moved from pillar to post to get the recognition for his father. Several MPs had raised the issue in the Parliament. The petitioner's case is that Khashaba Jadhav was denied Padma award citing the rule that posthumous awards are given to those within a year after death.Khashaba Jadhav received Arjuna Award in 2001, nearly 17 years after his passing away, around 51 years after he won Bronze in the Helsinki Olympic Games in 1952. It was a such a feat that no other Indian won any individual medal in Olympic for next 44 years-it came in the form of Leander Paes who won Bronze in Tennis and it was only in 2008 Beijing Olympic that Sushil Kumar became a second wrestler to win an individual medal in wrestling.