"No Legal Right To An Award": Delhi HC Rejects CRPF Officer's Plea Challenging Denial Of Gallantry Award For Operation With Armed Naxals

The Delhi High Court has rejected a plea by a CRPF officer challenging the denial of grant of Police Medal for Gallantry Award for a 2019 operation between the force and armed Naxals.

Justice Manmohan and Justice Navin Chawla dismissed the plea observing that the officer has no legal right to an award or a medal.

"In the opinion of this Court, the Petitioner has only a right for consideration of his name for the PMG award but he has no legal right to an award/medal," the Court said.

It added:

"Further this Court in writ jurisdiction does not confer a gallantry award but it examines only the decision making process and at the highest can only direct the Respondents to consider the Petitioner's request for an award."

The Court was dealing with a plea challenging the order dated 23rd July, 2021 which had denied the grant of Police Medal for Gallantry [PMG] award to the Petitioner. The plea therefore sought directions to the Respondent authorities to include his name for consideration for the said award.

It was the petitioner's case that on 25th July, 2019 he was involved in an operation between the CRPF and armed Naxals due to which his name, along with other force personnel, was recommended for the award by the unit commandant, vide the detailed report dated 14th August, 2019.

The petitioner was aggrieved by the fact that even though the Commandant had commended his bravery in the report, his name was not included for the award.

On communicating his grievance, the impugned order was issued wherein it was stated that the his role in the encounter was not up to the level for which his name could be recommended for the PMG award and hence his request was declined.

Therefore, according to the petitioner, it was submitted that despite acknowledging the his important role in the encounter, his name was removed from consideration for the award without any reason.

"In the present instance, Petitioner's name for PMG had been considered and declined by the CRPF at the highest level. Accordingly, this Court does not find any illegality in the decision making process by the Respondents," the Court observed at the outset.

With the aforesaid discussion, the plea was dismissed.

Title: MANJUNATH GOULI v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

Click Here To Read Order