TAKE BACK PADMA AWARD FROM CHANDA KOCHAR
Bureau,Odishabarta
Take back Padma award from Chanda Kochar – Review all cases of Padma awards given in past and snatch honours from those found involved in controversies
DELHI:It refers to Enforcement Directorate arresting Deepak Kochar, husband of former CEO of ICICI Bank Chanda Kochar as part of on-going probe by various investigating agencies against Kochar-duo. Union Home Ministry should now set procedure whereby prestigious national honours including Padma awards and Bharat Ratna may be snatched back from those found involved in later controversies by starting it with taking back honour from Chanda Kochar.
Even there are reports that some of those honoured with Padma awards in recent years, were declined these honours in past because of intelligence agencies not having endorsed their names after being cleared by Awards Committee. Even submissions filed with Union Home Ministry for taking back Padma awards from some celebrities involved in criminal cases and for being wilful bank-defaulters are not yet decided after years of filing submissions.
Central government should review of all Padma awards given in past by seeking affidavits from the awardees for their not being involved in court-cases and controversies. For future, intelligence agencies should be given sufficient time to verify nominations cleared by Awards Committee by requiring Awards Committee to submit final recommendations by 30th November. Even idea of making recommendations of Awards Committee public before final list is announced on eve of Republic Day can be studied so that people knowing some bitter facts about recommended names may send their comments to Union Home Ministry.
input;ms.madhu
