Court notices to Urdu Academy, top officials over awards row

Hyderabad: The High Court issued directions to Urdu Academy to submit detailed report within two weeks in the court over its failure to follow guidelines and rules and regulations in selection of candidates who were awarded Azad and Makhdoom Awards at the recently held function.

On November 11, a function was held at Urdu Maskan, Khilwat, marking the occasion of the National Education Day commemorating the birth anniversary of the first Education Minister of India, where Ministers, Md Mahmood Ali and K Eshwar distributed the awards. The High Court Judge Justice Vinod Kumar heard a writ petition filed by Editor of News Club and a senior scribe of Rahnuma-e- Deccan, Ahmed Kamal Ashraf, challenging the selection.

The advocate of petitioner, Vladimeer Khatoon, contended that no guidelines and rules and regulations were followed in selection of candidates for the awards. The advocate of Urdu Academy acknowledged that the same and held that Academy has powers to do anything for the same.

HC Judge Justice Vinod Kumar asked the advocate why Urdu Academy had not framed the guidelines and rules and regulations for selection of suitable and eligible candidates for awards, when in any other organisation there would be guidelines and rules and regulations for selection of eligible candidates for awards.

When the advocate of Urdu Academy contended that experts committees were constituted by the Urdu Academy for selection of candidates for the both the awards and that the members of committees selected the suitable persons for the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad National Award and Makhdoom Mohiuddin Award, the judge asked him what were the parameters for selection of candidates for awards.

The advocate of Academy failed to satisfy the judge in this regard. Thereafter, the judge issued directions to him submit a detailed report within two weeks in the court. Justice Vinod Kumar also ordered notices to be issued to Secretary, Department of Minorities Welfare, and Director and Secretary of Telangana State Urdu Academy.

During the proceedings, advocate Vladimeer Khatoon prayed to the court for justice to the petitioner, who he claimed was eligible for Makhdoom Mohiuddin Award in journalism category. During the proceedings, the petitioner's advocate also challenged the selection of Prince Muffakham Jah Bahadur, Professor Anwar Mouzam, the former Head of Department of Islamic Studies at Osmania University, for conferring on them the Abul Kalam Azad National Award. She asked which services Prince Muffakham Jah Bahadur rendered for promotion of Urdu language. Next hearing will be held after two weeks.