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The Karnataka High Court on Friday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation seeking to make sitting Judges of the High Courts as well as the Supreme Court eligible for Padma and State Awards. 

Dismissing the plea, a Division Bench of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi  and Justice  Sachin Shankar Magadum said, 

"We are going to dismiss the petition. We (Judges) don't want awards. "

To this, the petitioner appearing as party in person Dr. Vinod Kulkarni said, 

"Atleast please pass a direction to make sitting supreme Court judges eligible for padma awards." 

This argument was also was not taken into consideration by the Chief Justice led bench. 

During the hearing, the Bench asked, 

"In what way awarding judges will help the public? "

Awarding Judges with Padma Awards will lead to a better boost of morale, which will in turn, result in faster disposal of cases, came in the response. 

The petition filed in this regard states when Government doctors and other professionals are eligible to receive Padma awards, declaring Judges of the High Courts as well as Supreme Court ineligible for such awards is violative of Articles 14 and 21 as well as the basic structure doctrine of the Constitution. 

Adding on, the plea submits that honouring Judges with Padma or State Awards potentiates their ego, will power and mental strength, which in turn, leads to fast and speedy disposal of the already hugely pending cases in the courts. 

The petitioner goes on to contend that there is a urgent need to award sitting Judges with Padma or State awards keeping in mind the sacrifices they make towards the dispensation of Justice. 

Like other human beings, even Judges should aspire for honours, respect, recognition and awards in the society, states the plea. 

Case Name: Dr Vinod Kulkarni vs Union of India and ors