Pune residents oppose grant of Maharashtra Bhushan award to writer-poet Purandare, file PIL

A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Bombay High Court by two Pune residents objecting to Balwant Moreshwar Purandare being felicitated with the Maharashtra Bhushan award. The petition filed by Padmakar Kamble and Rahul Pokale, through their advocate Shekhar Jagtap, will come up for hearing on Wednesday.

The petitioners have claimed that the government has not given proper thought while deciding the granting of state's highest honour. Further, Purandare does not have any research, as per a clause, which is required to be felicitated, the petition added.

It is alleged that the book written by him is more of fiction than giving a true picture of the great Maratha warrior-king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

The PIL also states that there has been complete non-application of mind by the committee members who selected Purandare. It prays for directions to stay the decision.