Court rejects petition against Sachin Tendulkar's nomination to Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Monday rejected the petition challenging cricketer Sachin Tendulkar’s recent nomination to the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of India’s bicameral parliament.

A bench headed by Justice Deepak Verma refused to entertain the petition filed by one Ram Gopal Singh Sisodia and dismissed it as withdrawn.

Sisodia in his petition has sought the apex court’s intervention contending that constitutional provisions were violated while nominating the cricketing idol as Article 80(3) of the constitution provides for nominations of eminent people from the fields of literature, science, art and social services only which cannot be extended to the field of sports.

Tendulkar was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by President Pratibha Patil on the recommendations of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on April 26 following his meeting with the ruling Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi earlier that day.

Tendulkar who recently became the first cricketer ever to score century of international 100s is yet to take oath due to his association with the ongoing Indian Premier League franchise Mumbai Indians.

While his nomination raised several eyebrows, Tendulkar later on categorically stated that he has no intention to get active in politics.