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Process to withdraw Rathore’s medal begins
The Home Ministry has slapped a show-cause notice on former Haryana police chief SPS Rathore asking him to explain why he should not be stripped of his President’s police medal, reports Aloke Tikku.
The Home Ministry has slapped a show-cause notice on former Haryana police chief S.P.S. Rathore asking him to explain why he should not be stripped of his President’s police medal.
Rathore was convicted to six months imprisonment this month for molesting Ruchika, a 14-year-old budding tennis player, in 1990.
“The ministry is taking steps to withdraw the medal (Preside-nt’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service) of the former director general of police that he received in 1985,” Home Secretary G.K. Pillai announced on Saturday.
The President’s medal is normally awarded to police officers with a flawless record.
Rathore’s reply would be examined by the committee — formed to select police officers for the police medals to be announced on Republic Day — which is to meet on January 4.
The ministry may also reduce his pension benefits.
Officials say that it is unusual for the ministry to strip an officer of his medals but insist that the rules require awardees to have an unblemished track record. The ministry’s first priority in similar cases has been to start proceedings to impose penalties such as dismissal from service or reduction of pension.
