SC gives 4 weeks to Center to give gallantry award to ex-policeman from Madhya Pradesh

Supreme Court of India. | Photo credit: Sushil Kumar Verma

The Supreme Court on Monday (July 20, 2026) expressed displeasure with the Union government over the repeated postponement of the President’s Gallantry Award to former Madhya Pradesh police officer Vivek Singh Chouhan, who shot dead two dreaded dacoits in an encounter more than two decades ago.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and R. Mahadevan, hearing a plea filed by Union Home Minister Govind Mohan, gave the Center time till July 29 to comply with the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s direction to award Mr. Chouhan.

“This concerns a police officer who risked his life in the line of duty. The High Court has ordered the award. Now what is the justification for the next time?” Lavička asked.

Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Bench that the government had filed a review petition against the Supreme Court’s March 25 order which upheld the High Court’s direction.

“We have filed a review. It’s basically an objection. If your Lordship can consider the review, we can work it out. He may eventually get it, but not by mandamus,” Mr Mehta replied.

Justice Nath questioned why the government could not comply with the direction while dealing with its review petition.

“Why don’t you comply and then argue your review?” Lavička asked.

When the senior counsel argued that the award could be revoked if the review petition succeeded, the Bench observed, “If that is allowed, then the award will be set aside. Why can’t you comply? Why are you making an issue of it?”

The ultimate opportunity

Accordingly, the Bench gave the Center four weeks as the “last and final opportunity” to comply with this direction and warned that any further non-compliance would have dire consequences.

“We are giving four weeks as the last and final opportunity. If the award is not given within this period, the Home Secretary will have to appear in person to explain,” the Bench said and directed the Union government to file an affidavit of compliance within two weeks. After four weeks, the matter was referred for further consideration.

The proceedings arose out of a contempt petition which alleged that the Union government had failed to implement the order of the Madhya Pradesh High Court dated December 9, 2024, which directed that the award be given to Mr. Chouhan within a month. The direction was subsequently upheld by the Division Bench and later upheld by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court found that the Union government “overstepped” its order by approving the Medal of Gallantry, a lesser award, instead of awarding the President’s Gallantry Award.

However, Justice Pranay Verma gave the Union one last chance to comply with the previous direction and warned that if it failed to do so by the next hearing, the Home Secretary would “automatically be held in contempt” after which further proceedings would be initiated.

Mr. Chouhan, who was serving as Station House Officer at Ghatigaon police station in Gwalior district in 2003, led an operation against a gang of dacoits after receiving information about their presence in the village. Two dacoits were killed in the encounter during which Mr. Chouhan himself sustained injuries. After a judicial inquiry that gave him a clean chit, recommendations were made for his promotion out of rank and for the award of the Presidential Police Medal for Gallantry.

Published – 20 Jul 2026 22:49 IST