Indo-Pak War: Delhi HC Directs Panel To Consider Presenting Ex-Army Officer Gallantry Award

The Delhi High Court has directed the Honours and Awards Committee to evaluate Retd. Brig. NB Singh’s request to bestow the Gallantry Award on his father, who died in the 1965 Indo-Pak war.

A division bench of Justice Najmi Waziri and Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain directed the committee to consider speeding its review of the representation and reaching a conclusion within three months, if possible.

The Order was passed in response to a petition filed by retired Brigadier N B Singh. He stated that his father was a soldier who died in courageous and gallant circumstances during the 1965 war. He remarked that his father, Late Major Mohan Singh, deserved a Gallantry Award.

The prior order included condolence messages from both the then-Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri, and the then-Defense Minister, Y. B. Chavan.

Appearing for Retd Brig Singh, senior counsel G.V. Rao stated that the case of Late Major Mohan Singh has yet to be considered by the appropriate Committee; that although the appellant’s father was martyred in the rank of Captain, he was posthumously given the rank of Major, and that this in itself is an acknowledgement of the soldier’s gallant act.

As a result, he contended that the matter should be pursued to its natural conclusion, namely, that a Gallantry Award be bestowed to Late Major Mohan Singh.

CGSC (Central Government Standing Counsel) Anurag Ahluwalia appeared for the Union of India.

“…let this appeal be considered as the appellant’s representation by the Honours and Awards Committee at the Army Headquarters level.”, the bench directed.

The division bench further stated that the facts of this case are unique and pertain to the war which transpired approximately 58 years ago, therefore, the order shall not be viewed as a precedent.