Panel to consider conferring Padma Vibhushan on Justice Verma

Of the 127 people, who were conferred with Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri on the eve of this year's Republic day, 66 were honoured with the awards by the President at a special function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan today.

The remaining awardees would be honoured by the President at another special function to be held on April 26.

The decision on the former Chief Justice of India would be taken before the next function, sources said.

Immediately after Justice Verma's name was announced as one of the Padma Bhushan awardees, in a letter to the President, Verma's wife had said, “The greatest honour to him remains how he is held in the hearts and minds of his fellow countrymen: as a true friend not just to women or the youth, but to those most in need of one....”