In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court awarded Rs. 5 lakhs as an honorarium to 83-year-old retired Constable Ram Autar, who had approached the Court seeking a direction for Uttar Pradesh authorities to act on his long-pending Gallantry Award recommendation. The retired officer had saved public lives by killing a dacoit during his service, and his bravery had been acknowledged with a Gallantry Award recommendation by the Superintendent of Police, Banda, on August 3, 1989.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta, and Ujjal Bhuyan dealt with Ram Autar’s appeal challenging an Allahabad High Court order, which had denied his prayer for action on the recommendation, citing his delay in approaching the court. The High Court had argued that the petitioner’s inaction over the years did not warrant equitable relief.
However, the Supreme Court, taking into account the petitioner’s age and the fact that he had saved lives, decided to intervene. While the UP government initially offered a financial reward of Rs. 1 lakh, the Court, appreciating the offer, reduced its initially considered amount of Rs. 10 lakhs to Rs. 5 lakhs, recognizing the state’s fairness in offering the sum.
In addition to the monetary award, the Court directed the state to confer the Gallantry Award on the petitioner.
This case underscores the Court’s recognition of the petitioner’s long-delayed but deserved recognition for his heroic actions in the line of duty, despite his delayed appeal.
Case Title: Ram Autar Singh Yadav v. State of Uttar Pradesh & Ors., Special Leave to Appeal (C) No(s). 26568/2023
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