Rathore set to lose Prez medal, pension

Retired Haryana police chief SPS Rathore, convicted of molesting 14-year-old Ruchika Girhotra, stands to lose his President’s police medal awarded in 1985 within the next two months but could get a grace period, before the government takes a decision on reducing his pension, reports HT Correspondent.

Retired Haryana police chief SPS Rathore, convicted of molesting 14-year-old Ruchika Girhotra, stands to lose his President’s police medal awarded in 1985 within the next two months but could get a grace period, before the government takes a decision on reducing his pension.

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The home ministry has decided to ask Rathore to show cause why the medal —that was awarded on the condition of his maintaining an unblemished record — should not be withdrawn.

The ministry has also called for a report into Haryana government recommending Rathore’s name for a President’s police medal for distinguished service in 1999.

The state government had given Rathore a clean chit from the vigilance angle. The Ruchika case, however, surfaced in the home ministry records during a background check by the intelligence bureau and his candidature was rejected.

“The show cause for the 1985 medal will be issued on the next working day (Tuesday),” a home ministry official said. The ministry will, after ascertaining his response, make its recommendation to the President.

“It would not take too much time… may be two months at the most,” the official said.

The process to reduce his pension, however, would take longer. “May be five-six months if there is public pressure on the government to act… longer… up to two years if the files move as they usually do,” said an official familiar with the formalities involved in disciplinary proceedings.

A senior home ministry official, however, pointed that the Rathore case was more an exception than the rule.

This is the only case in the last five years where the home ministry has initiated the process for stripping a senior police officer of the President’s medal.

“Otherwise, we do receive complaints about gallantry awards but most complaints are prompted by internal rivalries. We proceed very very carefully ... as it is not possible ... to determine the truth independently and the states stand by their original recommendation,” the official said.