Tue Feb 04 22:54:55 IST 2025: ## Government Rejects Pre-Award Undertakings to Prevent Award Returns
**New Delhi, Feb 4, 2025** – The Union Culture Ministry has rejected a parliamentary committee’s suggestion to require writers to sign undertakings promising not to return Sahitya Akademi awards for political reasons. The Ministry, in a response to a report tabled in the Lok Sabha on Monday, argued that such a measure would compromise the confidentiality of the award selection process and might be legally unenforceable.
The Department Related Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture had recommended the undertaking in 2023 and reiterated it this week, citing instances of award returns as undermining the prestige of the awards. The committee specifically pointed to the 2015 incident where 39 writers returned their awards in protest over the killing of Kannada writer M.M. Kalburgi.
While acknowledging the committee’s concerns, the Ministry stated that it would explore alternative methods to prevent future award returns. The committee, in turn, suggested a non-disclosure clause within the undertaking to address confidentiality concerns. The committee also recommended a policy to monitor artists who return awards but maintain affiliation with the Akademi. The Ministry’s response highlights a continued debate over balancing artistic freedom and the perceived impact of award returns on the reputation of literary accolades.
First Piper 