President's Gallantry Award To Ex-Cop: Centre Tells Supreme Court It Will Find 'Positive Solution' By August 7

The Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta was hearing an application filed by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan challenging contempt proceedings initiated against him by the Madhya Pradesh High Court for alleged non-compliance with its direction to confer the award.

"I am working on it and some solution will be found," Mehta submitted.

Senior Advocate Mrigendra Singh appearing for Chouhan opposed any prolonged adjournment, pointing out that gallantry awards are traditionally announced on August 14-15 every year and urged that the matter not be deferred beyond August 7.

The Bench recalled that in its July 20 order, it had made it clear that no further extension of time would be granted to the Centre.

Recording the Solicitor General's assurance, the Court observed: "Today, the Solicitor General has made a request that the matter could be adjourned for August 7 and by the said date, he will come up with a positive solution of the problem."

The matter has accordingly been listed for August 7.

Previous Proceedings

Earlier, on July 20, the Supreme Court had expressed displeasure over the Centre's failure to comply with the Madhya Pradesh High Court's direction despite informing the Court that it had filed a review petition against the Supreme Court's March 25 judgment affirming the High Court's order.

The Bench had then questioned why the Union government was not implementing the judgment while simultaneously pursuing a review petition.

Chouhan's counsel had submitted that the former police officer had been waiting for justice for 23 years.

Background of the Case

The contempt proceedings stem from the Centre's alleged failure to comply with the Madhya Pradesh High Court's December 9, 2024 direction requiring it to confer the President's Gallantry Medal on Chouhan within one month.

Chouhan, then the Station House Officer of Ghatigaon Police Station in Gwalior district, had led an anti-dacoity operation in 2003, during which two dacoits were killed and he himself sustained injuries.

Following a magisterial inquiry that exonerated him, recommendations were made for his out-of-turn promotion and the President's Police Medal for Gallantry. After years of litigation, the Madhya Pradesh High Court directed the State in 2018 to forward his name to the Centre.

Although the State recommended his name in 2019, the Ministry of Home Affairs rejected the proposal, triggering another round of litigation before the High Court and subsequently the Supreme Court.

During the contempt proceedings, the Centre informed the High Court that the President had approved the Gallantry Medal (GM) for Chouhan. However, the High Court held that this did not amount to compliance, observing that the Gallantry Medal and the President's Gallantry Medal are distinct honours, with the latter being a higher distinction.