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Supreme Court allows cricket sponsors to remit foreign exchange
MUMBAI: The Supreme Court today ruled in favour of the official sponsors of the ICC World Cup, principally LG India (LGI), and allowed them to remit foreign exchange for the tournament.
A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice VN Khare, Justice YK Sabharwal and Justice Arijit Pasayat, however, stated that the remittances made by the sponsors to the mega event would be subject to the final orders passed by the apex Court, the Press Trust of India reports.
However, since this interim order was passed by the bench while postponing for eight weeks hearing on an appeal filed by LGI challenging a Delhi High Court order of 22 January on the matter, it means that the sponsors have practically no restrictions on this count during the tournament itself.
The High Court had directed the Union government and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) that no foreign exchange, either in the form of sponsorship money or as damages, be released to ICC if the apex body debarred India from playing in the championship or imposed any penalty or damages on players or Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
PTI reported that LG in its petition, while assailing the High Court order, had said that as the BCCI had “invoked an arbitration clause and the matter is pending before the Swiss Court of Arbitration”, the High Court had no jurisdiction to entertain the PIL filed by NKP Salve, Kapil Dev and four others.
An interesting element was added to the proceedings when LGI’s counsel alleged that the PIL filed before the High Court was a “collusive petition instigated by its competitor (Samsung Electronics) and aided by the BCCI, which by recourse to a proxy petition is seeking to wriggle out of its contractual obligations having agreed to certain clauses which compromise the interest of the Indian cricketers.”
Terming the effect of the High Court order as “achieving something indirectly which was not possible directly”, the electronic major said that the High Court completely lost sight of the fact that the matter was squarely covered under the contractual obligations in which it had no jurisdiction.
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.
