Consider the following statements in respect of Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards:
1. Bharat Ratna and Padma awards are titles under the Article 18 (1) of the Constitution of India.
2. Padma Awards, which were instituted in the year 1954, were suspended only once.
3. The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of five in a particular year.
Which of the above statements are not correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: In the landmark judgment in Balaji Raghavan vs. Union of India (1995), the Supreme Court ruled that the National Awards (Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri) represent state honors and decorations of merit, not ‘titles’ within the prohibition of Article 18(1). However, they cannot be prefixed or suffixed to the recipient’s name.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Instituted in 1954, the Padma Awards have been suspended twice: first during 1977-1980 under the Janata Party administration, and later between 1992 and 1997 due to pending public interest litigations in high courts.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Under official presidential statutes, the total number of Bharat Ratna awards is restricted to a maximum of three in any given calendar year (not five).
Since the question asks which statements are not correct, all three are incorrect — Option D.