Centre's decision to confer award to hotelier Chatwal challenged in Delhi HC

A PIL was filed in the Delhi high court challenging the Centre's decision to confer 'Padma Bhushan' to US-based NRI hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal, saying he was involved in various economic fraud cases.

The petition, which may come up for hearing this week, has sought a direction to the Centre to rescind the decision to confer the award to Chatwal on various grounds including his alleged involvement in various cases.

Besides Chatwal, the Centre and CBI have also been made parties in the PIL, which was filed by the petitioner S K Shah.

"The decision of the Centre to confer the award to Chatwal is not only in the violation of the Fundamental rights of every citizens, but is also against the policies to award the Padma awards," it said.

The petition has sought direction that Chatwal and his firms and others related to him be not given any loan or money by the banks here.