The Union home ministry wants states to recommend names of gallant police officers immediately after they have performed a valiant act or else they may lose their chance of being awarded the President’s police medals for gallantry.
To avoid controversies and last minute rush for the prestigious police medal for gallantry and meritorious service given on the eve of Independence Day, the home ministry has shot off a letter to all states and UTs saying that any last minute recommendations may not be accepted. The ministry has also drawn the states’ attention to the recent practice of sending recommendations for gallantry medals months after the incident has already taken place. Security personnel performing valiant acts during a terrorist strike, Maoist violence and those fighting militancy in insurgency hit states usually dominate the list of recipients honoured with President’s police medals for gallantry.
However, during the last few years, the issue of not so gallant police officers bagging the prestigious police medal for gallantry has been troubling many within the security establishment.
The case of a Madhya Pradesh officer getting a gallantry award in 2004 for leading an encounter came back to haunt the MHA only last year after the NHRC undertook an inquiry into the incident which led to the killing of a dreaded dacoit in Jhabhua district. Questions were raised on whether the encounter was genuine.
The MHA, in its letter, has told states that the recommendations for gallantry medals should be sent immediately after the incident and state governments should also avoid clubbing such names with the recommendations for service medals.
“We are asking states to streamline the process of sending recommendations for the President’s police medal for gallantry, distinguished and meritorious service,” an official said. Starting this week, the home ministry will begin the process of scrutinising the recommendations sent by the states, UTs and Central police organisations for the prestigious awards to be given on the eve of August 15.