Sir — The list of the recipients of the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri awards includes distinguished personalities from the fields of film, sports, business etc.
However, some of these awardees are on the list on political grounds only. The selection criteria of these awards is such that deserving artists have been left out in order to favour certain individuals. Awards should be given on the basis of pure merit so as to encourage the ordinary people to excel in their own specialised field.