Film actor and presently Nawab of Pataudi Saif Ali Khan is once again in headlines for being involved in fight with other diners dining at the posh restaurant in Mumbai. His involvement in such a scuffle is not new He has earlier also been known for such undesired behaviour in public including cases where he even apologised. Union government should take back ‘Padmashree’ from Saif Ali Khan.
Saif’s been awarded ‘Padmashree’ in the year 2010 was criticised then also for his being regularly involved in controversies and acts considered to be criminal offence. An RTI response had revealed that he was recommended by ‘Awards Committee’ in its meeting without mentioning name of member of Awards Committee having recommended his name. Enquiry should be made which member of the Awards Committee recommended the controversial name giving bad name to the prestigious civilian honour. Significantly senior government-officers and eminent personalities from different fields are members of the Awards Committee which is exempted from following norms of last date of making recommendations.
It was only after ‘Padmashree’ awarded to such a controversial person that Union government discontinued practice of revealing names of recommending persons through RTI response. Transparency should be restored by revealing names of recommending persons for Padma award nominees and by taking back often misused power from Awards Committee to make recommendations after deadline of 20th November.