Army kicks up Ashok Chakra row

A week after seven policemen, the highest number so far, were awarded the Ashok Chakra, the country’s highest peacetime gallantry award, a new controversy appears to be brewing over it.

The army website says the award cannot be given to police and fire department personnel. When contacted, a defence ministry spokesman refused to comment.

According to the website, the award for “most conspicuous bravery, or some act of daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice other than in the face of the enemy” can’t be given to “members of police forces and recognised fire services”.

The website says the Ashok Chakra can be awarded to “officers, men and women of all ranks of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, any of the Reserve Forces, Territorial Army, militia and of any other lawfully constituted forces”. It can also be awarded to “members of the nursing services of the armed forces” or “civilians of either sex from all walks of life, other than members of police forces and of recognised fire services”.

A senior army officer said the reason could be that the president’s police medal for gallantry is specially instituted for police personnel, besides awards for distinguished and meritorious service.