News Headline
Supreme Court to resume hearings in three cricket cases
MUMBAI: Matters cricketing take centre stage once again in the legal arena with the Supreme Court scheduled to hear arguments in three important cases from tomorrow.
The apex court has fixed Tuesday, 30 November, to commence final hearings in the following three cases:
1) The Indian cricket board’s status as a ‘state’, brought on by Zee Telefilms, after the BCCI cancelled the India cricket telecast rights that it had awarded to Subhash Chandra’s company for an astronomical $ 308 million.
The BCCI’s argument is that Zee’s petition is not maintainable and should be dismissed since the board is “neither a state nor an instrumentality of the state” within the meaning of Article 12 of the Constitution.
The BCCI’s contention is that the government does not have any direct or indirect control over it and it is free to conduct the affairs of sports as it chooses (in this particular case cancel the rights it awarded to Zee if it chooses to).
2) Appeals filed by the Indian cricket board against a Madras High Court restraining its newly elected office-bearers from discharging their functions and placing it under an administrator. The apex court had in a related order also stayed till final disposal the appointment of board supremo Jagmohan Dalmiya as the BCCI’s patron-in-chief.
3) The last case relates to the commercial dispute between Ten Sports and Doordarshan over the historic India-Pakistan series telecast earlier this year. Ten Sports, which had exclusive terrestrial and cable and satellite rights to the series, had been forced on the apex court’s directives to make the feed available to national broadcaster Doordarshan.
There is a whole lot riding on these cases, for the BCCI and Zee in particular. For Zee, its ambitions of launching a sports channel are reported to hinge on its being granted the India telecast rights.
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.
