WILLIAM JOHN Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) CONFERMENT or Awards and title has always been a controversial issue and the present case is an outcome of such a controversy.Petitioner,who claims to be a public spirited citizen,challenges the presentation of Ezhuthachan Award 'for the year 1993 to Sri.Sooranad Kunjan Pillai.Petitioner alleges that eminent writers in the field of Malayalam Literature were excluded from the purview of consideration for giving this Award.It is alleged that entries were not called for and the selection of the award winner was done by a committee consisted of the Indian Administrative Service It is further alleged that when the Government institutes an Award every citizen is having a fundamental right that his works also to be considered for the purpose of Award.Petitioner alleges that the procedure adopted by the authorities in conferring Ezhuthachan Award is arbitrary and illegal.Therefore,it is prayed that the matter should be considered afresh by a competent judging committee.

(2.) I heard the petitioner 's counsel.According to the petitioner,when the Department of Cultural Affairs of the Kerala Government decided to confer the title 'Ezhuthachan Award ' ;,there must have been an open invitation and all interested persons should have been given opportunity to submit their applications.Petitioner 's counsel also contended that there are so many other eminent persons in the field of Malayalam Literature and the selection of one person to confer this title is illegal and violative of Art.14 of the Constitution.

(3.) PETITIONER has no case that the giving of this Award was for any external cons ideation and motivated by any self interest.Conferring of this Award is being done as part of the cultural development of the state.It is duty of the Department of Cultural Affairs to give incentive and help to persons who are engaged in the field of cultural activities.The conferring of Ezhuthachan Award to Shri Sooranad Kunjan Pillai is to be appreciated in that line.Original Petition is dismissed.