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PIL filed in Bombay HC challenging India rights tender
MUMBAI: The Board for Cricket Control in India (BCCI) was today hit with a public interest litigation (PIL) filed in the Bombay High Court alleging irregularities in the tender process for cricket broadcast rights.
The BCCI, which opened bidding only last Saturday, has invited tenders for cricket telecast rights for India cricket (international and domestic matches) to be played between 1 October 2004 and 30 September 2008.
Impleaded in the case are the Union ministry of sports, Union ministry of information & broadcasting, ESPN Star Sports, Ten Sports, Sony Entertainment TV India, Zee Telefilms, World Sport Nimbus and IMG/TWI, amongst others, informed sources say.
The PIL, filed by a certain Pednekar, a lawyer and “cricket lover” who plays the game at club level, has alleged that the BCCI tender is a mockery designed to favour foreign broadcasters. Among the charges laid out in the PIL are those relating to the mode of payment. The plea alleges that the BCCI’s seeking payments in dollars/Euros was only aimed at disqualifying Indian broadcasters (according to FEMA [Foreign Exchange Management Act] regulations, an Indian entity cannot pay another Indian entity in foreign currency for transactions conducted within the country).
The second charge made in the PIL is that the tender has sweeping restrictions that are aimed at disqualifying all but the favoured few.
The PIL also draws attention to the short window period given for submitting tenders (the ad was placed last Saturday and the last day for submitting duly completed tender documents is Saturday, 14 August 2 pm at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai). It has been further charged that the short period given to respond would mean that only those that had prior information as to the terms and conditions laid out by the BCCI would be able arrange all the necessary documents.
The plea filed before the High Court also lists a number of complaints against the functioning of the BCCI.
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.
