Gallantry award for former police officer: Centre assures of positive solution by August 7
The Indian Centre has requested more time from the Supreme Court to resolve a long-standing dispute regarding the conferment of a gallantry award on a former police officer. The court has granted an extension until August 7, 2026, for the government to provide a positive solution.
Why it matters
This case highlights the tension between judicial directives and executive compliance in matters of state honors and administrative accountability.
The Centre on Wednesday (July 29, 2026) told the Supreme Court that it will come up with a "positive solution" by August 7, 2026 on the issue concerning the conferring of the prestigious President's Gallantry Award on a former police officer who shot dead two dacoits during an operation in 2003.
On July 20, the Supreme Court had expressed its displeasure over the Centre's non-compliance with a Madhya Pradesh High Court direction to confer the award on former police officer Vivek Singh Chouhan.
The Supreme Court, which was hearing an application filed by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, had then given the Centre time till July 29 to comply with the high court's order. On Wednesday (July 29, 2026), the application came up for hearing before a Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta.
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