Centre justifies Tendulkar's nomination to Rajya Sabha

New Delhi – The Delhi High Court was on Wednesday informed by the central government that the nomination of cricketer Sachin Tendulkar to the Rajya Sabha was according to a constitutional provision.

The provision allowed nomination of experts from the fields of literature, science, art and social services but also from sports, education and others, the government said.

A division bench of Chief Justice D. Murugesan and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw was given by Additional Solicitor General Rajeev Mehra a copy of an affidavit earlier filed in the Allahabad High Court on a similar plea against Tendulkar’s nomination.

The central government’s response came on a petition filed by Ram Gopal Singh Sisodia, a former Delhi legislator.

The petitioner claimed that Tendulkar did not possess the qualification prescribed under Article 80 of the constitution for a person with “special knowledge and practical experience” being nominated to the Rajya Sabha.

The affidavit said: “The ‘special knowledge and practical experience’ required for the purpose is not confined to the said four categories (literature, science, arts and social service) only but would also include categories like sports, education, law, history, academics attainments, economics, journalism, parliamentary practice and procedure, public administration, agriculture, sports (wrestling) or other similar fields of human endeavour”.

Counsel R.K. Kapoor, appearing for the petitioner, told the court that he filed a petition before the Supreme Court seeking transfer of all the petitions from various high courts to the apex Court.

Tendulkar was nominated by the government to the upper house of parliament April 26 alongside actress Rekha and industrialist Anu Aga.