NEW DELHI: Who has the authority to recommend names for sports awards - the National Sports Federation or any organisation dealing with sports?

That is the question raised in a writ petition filed in Allahabad High Court, Lucknow Bench, challenging the recommendations of the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) for batsman Virat Kohli for Arjuna Awards for outstanding performance and ex Captain Sunil Gavaskar for Dhyan Chand award for life time achievement.

The petitioners IPS officer Amitabh Thakur and social activist Dr Nutan Thakur say only the National Sports Federation (NSF) can make recommendations for the national sports awards.

Furthermore, BCCI is not one of the 51 NSFs recognised by the Sports and Youth Affairs Ministry. BCCI is an unrecognised private body which does not want to become a NSF and yet wants to have all advantages of NSF, the petitioners say.

Based on this, Amitabh and Nutan have prayed the High Court to direct the Sports Ministry not to entertain the recommendations of awards made by BCCI.