The Bombay high court has asked Union government to file an affidavit explaining why Ashok Chakra, the highest gallantry award in the country, had been refused to the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) personnel, who had fought gallantly to thwart the 2008 Nov 26 terrorist strike in the city.
The order by the division bench of justices PV Hardas and Anuja Prabhudessai came after hearing the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by former journalist Ketan Tirodkar seeking that the honour be bestowed on all officers who had fought during the 26/11 terrorist attacks involving Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab and nine others.
On a court query earlier, the Maharashtra government had informed the HC that awarding Ashok Chakra was the prerogative of the ministry of home affairs and that the state only recommended names.
The state had recommended the name of police inspector Steven Mathews Anthony for the police medal for gallantry, besides 18 others of the Bomb Disposal Squad.
The central govt then informed the HC that it had received the request from Maharashtra on Ashok Chakra.
This was revealed in a letter written by GC Yadav, undersecretary to Union home ministry to the state home ministry on November 12, 2013. The letter, however, did not assign any reason why the names recommended by the state had not been considered.
The HC has hence asked the Union government to file an affidavit on this.
Ashok Chakra was awarded to four officers who had died during the attacks: Ashok Kamte, Hemant Karkare, Vijay Salaskar and Tukaram Oomble (they had seized Kasab's weapon on that fateful night, leading to his capture).
The affidavit filed by Kailas Bilonikar, under secretary to home department, also states that families of Kamte, Salaskar and Karkare have been awarded petrol pumps.
Following the 26/11 terror attacks, the President had conferred four Ashok Chakras, three Kriti Chakras, 12 President's Police Medal for Gallantry and 21 Police Medals for Gallantry.
Tirodkar PIL seeks conferring Ashok Chakra on all officers who fought against the terrorists. "Several other officers like Sadanand Date, Vijay Khandekar and Arun Jadhav also showed bravery during the attacks.
They did not lose their lives, but had fought gallantly," the petition states.
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