Sports Minister MS Gill flayed the 'casualness' of Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh for skipping the Padma Shri function and said the Ministry would soon issue a circular to ensure that sportspersons treat national awards with utmost respect.

Dhoni and his India teammate Harbhajan were conspicuous by their absence at the Rashtrapati Bhavan ceremony where they were expected to accept the Padma Shri awards from President Pratibha Patil.

Even though reports claimed the duo gave it a miss because of their commercial pre-occupations, Harbhajan cited family commitment as the reason for skipping the event.

The Sports Minister, however, was not convinced and even though he refused to name the duo, Gill said he would not brook such casualness by anyone.

"To be selected for such a national honour and then getting the opportunity of receiving it from the President of India is a rare good fortune and must be treated with greatest respect. I certainly don't approve of any casualness in anyone's approach," said Gill.

And to ensure it does not happen again, the Ministry would issue a new circular soon, he said.

"We will soon issue a new circular for public information and send a copy to the Home Ministry, which would inform the sportspersons about our policy to ensure that the players don't treat national awards with such casualness," Gill said.

The Sports Minister also lashed out at the practice of sending "substitutes" to the investiture ceremony and said such a thing was unthinkable in countries like England.

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