Bombay HC: Using Bharat Ratna/Padma Shri as Title Can Revoke Honor

• Bombay High Court ruled that national awards like Bharat Ratna or Padma Shri cannot be used as titles (prefix/suffix) to names.
• Justice Somashekhar Sundaresan observed 'Padma Shri' prefixed to Dr. Sharad M. Hardikar's name in a petition, deeming it legally incorrect.
• Using these awards as titles violates Article 18(1) of the Constitution, which deals with the abolition of titles.
• The court cited a Supreme Court judgment (Balaji Raghavan/S.P. Anand vs. Union of India) confirming these awards are not titles.
• Misuse can lead to the revocation of the national honor under 'Regulation 10' of the award notification.

Why It Matters: National awards are not titles; using them as such can lead to revocation, as per Bombay HC and SC.