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Cricket: Zee moves SC against HC order
NEW DELHI: The Subhash Chandra-promoted Zee Telefilms today filed an appeal in the Supreme Court challenging a Madras high court order that upheld Indian cricket board’s decision to cancel the tender process for awarding telecast rights for domestic cricket till 2008.
In its petition, filed through counsel Maninder Singh, Zee said it had emerged as the highest bidder for the telecast rights of cricket matches played in India under the aegis of the cricket board between 2004-08 and, hence, should have been awarded the contract, a Press Trust of India report said.
A division Bench of the Madras high court on 2 May had set aside a single judge’s order, which held that the cancellation of tender process by the cricket board was “improper.” The single Bench had directed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to call for fresh tenders and permitted Zee Telefilms and ESPN to participate in the fresh tender process.
However, a division bench, comprising chief justice Markandeya Katju and Justice Ibrahim Khalifullah, took exception to the single judge’s remarks that the cancellation was vitiated by arbitrariness and unfair action of the BCCI and its former chief Jagmohan Dalmia, in particular.
The judges held “these remarks against the BCCI and Dalmia are unjustified, uncalled for and unsustainable.”
The apex court is already besieged with a clutch of cricket-related cases, which also includes one where Indian pubcaster Doordarshan and Dubai-based Ten Sports have locked horns over an Indo-Pakistan cricket series played in Pakistan in 2004.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
