14-WP-18685-2024 (C).DOC IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 18685 OF 2024 Aditya Anil Giram ...Petitioner Versus The State Of Maharashtra Through P.S. And Ors ...Respondents ___________ Adv. Vaibhav V. Ugle, for Petitioner. Adv. P.J. Gavhane, AGP for Respondent No.1-State. __________ CORAM: G. S. KULKARNI & ADVAIT M. SETHNA, JJ. Date: 06 JANUARY, 2025. P.C. 1. We have heard the learned Counsel for the parties. 2. The petitioner has been granted several medals in the sports of “Diving (Aquatics)”. It is the case of the petitioner that he has participated in several National Diving Competitions and is having 25 gold medals, 21 silver medals and 14 bronze medals. Considering such achievements, the petitioner has made an application dated 30th January 2023 to the State Sports Award Committee (“Award Committee”), constituted under policy of the State Government as notified under Government Resolution dated 14th December 2022 for conferment of the ‘Shiv Chatrapati Rajya Krida Puraskar’. As the petitioner’s application has not been considered and/or no decision on the same is taken by the Award Committee, the petitioner has filed this petition. 3. In support of the petitioner’s contention being entitled to the said award, our Rajesh Chittewan PA 14-WP-18685-2024 (C).DOC attention has been drawn to the said G.R. dated 14 December 2022, as also to an order dated 7 February 2024 passed in Writ Petition No.13360 of 2023 Ganesh S. Navale Vs. The State of Maharashtra & Ors and other companion writ petitions by a co-ordinate Bench of this Court, of which one of us, G.S. Kulkarni, J. was a member. In similar circumstance, the Court in para-9 of the said order had observed that :- “It appears to us that the intention of said Scheme would be to promote sports and recognize the merit of such outstanding sports persons, ho have been awarded medals at the National Competitions. Any decision which needs to be taken by the Sports Committee is required to be taken, in recognization of such object, which the State policy in conferring awards to sports persons.” 4. Considering such objection and intention of the scheme, there ought not to be any discrimination and the merit of such sports person is required to be recognized. In our opinion any laxity on the part of the Award Committee in not deciding the application of the outstanding and meritorious sport persons, is not conducive and in fact would operate counterproductive to the State policy defeating its purpose. 5. In the aforesaid circumstances, we dispose of the petition keeping all the contentions of the parties open, by directing State Sports Award Committee constituted under the G.R. dated 14 December 2022, to consider the petitioner’s application after opportunity of hearing is granted to the petition and decide the same as expeditiously as possible, and in any event, within a period of four weeks Rajesh Chittewan PA 14-WP-18685-2024 (C).DOC from today. 6. Disposed of in the aforesaid terms. No costs. (ADVAIT M. SETHNA, J.) (G. S. KULKARNI, J.) Rajesh Chittewan PA RAJESH VASANT CHITTEWAN Digitally signed by RAJESH VASANT CHITTEWAN Date: 2025.01.08 17:59:05 +0530