SC gives Centre 4-weeks to confer gallantry award on former Madhya Pradesh cop
The Supreme Court of India has given the Union Government a final four-week deadline to award a gallantry medal to a former police officer. The court expressed frustration over the government's repeated delays and attempts to challenge the award while simultaneously seeking to delay compliance.
Why it matters
This case highlights the tension between judicial mandates and executive administrative processes, emphasizing the court's role in enforcing individual rights against bureaucratic delays.
The Supreme Court expressed displeasure with the Union Government on Monday (July 20, 2026) over the repeated delay in conferring the President’s Gallantry Award on a former Madhya Pradesh police officer Vivek Singh Chouhan, who gunned down two dreaded dacoits in an encounter more than two decades ago.
A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and R. Mahadevan, hearing an application filed by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, granted the Centre time till July 29 to comply with the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s direction to confer the award on Mr. Chouhan.
“This concerns a police officer who risked his life in service. The High Court has directed the award to be conferred. What is the justification for seeking further time now?” the Bench asked.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in