Centre to reply to PIL on awards to 26/11 bravehearts

MUMBAI: The Union home ministry on Wednesday soughttime from the Bombay High Court to file its reply to a PIL demanding Ashok Chakra and gallantry awards for all the officers who fought the terrorists during the 26/11 terror attacks in the city.

A bench headed by justice P V Hardas gave two weeks to the ministry to file an affidavit in reply to the PIL filed by activist Ketan Tirodkar.

On the last occasion, the bench had allowed the petitioner to include the Union home ministry as a respondent.

Maharashtra government had informed the court on December 9 that though a proposal had been sent to the Centre for presenting gallantry awards to police officials and members of bomb disposal squads for fighting terrorists during the 26/11 attacks, it had rejected the names.

The state government had recommended the name of police inspector Steven Mathews Anthony for the police medal for gallantry, besides 18 others of the Bomb Disposal Squad.