The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition filed against the nomination of Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar to the Rajya Sabha.
Petitioner Ram Gopal Singh Sisodia, a former Delhi MLA, moved the apex court seeking to revoke the nomination of batting maestro Tendulkar to Upper House, arguing that it was against the provision of the Indian constitution as he doesn't hold any of the merits to get this privilege.
Citing to the Article 80(3) of the Constitution, which called for the nomination of important people from various sectors like science, literature, social services and art, Sisodia said it did not have the provision for appointing a person to the House of Elders, well-known as the Rajya Sabha, from the sports fraternity.
The Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Deepak Verma refused to entertain the plea, while asking why he approached the apex bench directly before going to the Delhi High Court.
The apex court granted an option to the counsel to withdraw the petition allowing Sisodia to approach the high court, which he agreed to.
The Congress party suggested Tendulkar's name to Rajya Sabha last week and the President of India, Pratibha Patil, approved his nomination. The President can nominate 12 members to the Upper House under Article 80 of the Indian Constitution.
With this Rajya Sabha nomination, Tendulkar has become the first active sportsman to be a member of the House of Elders.
The Congress party also nominated 57-year-old Bollywood actress Rekha and industrialist Anu Aga to the Rajya Sabha. Rekha has won the national award for her role in "Umrao Jaan" and is also a recipient of the Padma Shri award.
Anu Aga, took up social work after her retirement in 2004 and is also a recipient of Padma Shri award. She is currently the chairperson of "Teach for India."
Tendulkar and Rekha both have accepted the nomination.
