Delhi HC declines to entertain plea seeking Bharat Ratna for Ratan Tata

It is not for the court to direct the authorities to award the highest civilian honour to a person, stated a bench headed by acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi, declining to entertain a PIL seeking a Bharat Ratna for leading industrialist Ratan Tata.

“What kind of a petition is this? Is this for the court to direct (the government to award Bharat Ratna),” asked the Delhi high court bench, which also included Justice Navin Chawla. “Is it for us to decide who the Bharat Ratna should be awarded to? You either withdraw or we will impose cost,” the bench added.

The petitioner’s counsel urged the court to “at least request” the government but the acting chief justice refused to entertain the plea. He told the petitioner to make the request himself since there is no question of the court stepping in for such a matter.

According to the petitioner, who claimed to be a social worker, Ratan Tata deserves the Bharat Ratna, as he is serving the nation. Despite being born with a silver spoon, he has led an exemplary life inspiring millions of careerists around the globe. Moreover, he has proved to be an excellent leader and a business owner, said the petition, which sought the court to direct the government to give Ratan Tata the award.

The petition highlighted that Tata group companies have contributed nearly ₹3,000 crore for Covid relief.

Also read: Ratan Tata shares his journey ‘from shop floor to Chairman’s seat’

After the court said that it would dismiss the same with costs, the counsel for the petitioner withdrew the petition.

In 2021, netizens had launched a campaign demanding that the Bharat Ratna should be conferred on Ratan Tata. At that time, Tata had tweeted that while he appreciated the sentiments expressed by a section of the social media in terms of an award, he would humbly like to request that such campaigns be “discontinued”.

“Instead, I consider myself fortunate to be an Indian and to try and contribute to India’s growth and prosperity,” he had said.

Former Tata Group Chairman JRD Tata is the only industrialist to have received India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna. “I do not want India to be an economic superpower. I want India to be a happy country,” the business tycoon had said while receiving the award in 1992.