The government on Monday decided to strip former Haryana DGP SPS Rathore of his police medal, and to establish a mechanism for the automatic withdrawal of all such decorations from convicted officers.
That the government was considering such action was first reported by The Indian Express on December 25.
The decisions, taken at a meeting chaired by Union home secretary G K Pillai, will also lead to another senior police officer, R K Sharma, convicted for the murder of journalist Shivani Bhatnagar, losing his medal.
Earlier in the day, Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda recommended the withdrawal of the medal, which Rathore received for meritorious service in 1985.
In a letter to Union home minister P Chidambaram, Hooda said Rathore?convicted in the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case?had brought ?disrepute and bad name? to the state and its police. Hooda also mentioned Rathore?s ?moral turpitude? in the case.
The police officers are honoured by the President on the recommendation of the government. Once a decision is taken to strip an officer of his medal, the President is advised accordingly.
In Chandigarh, Madhu Parkash, the complainant in the Ruchika molestation case, welcomed the Centre?s decision. Madhu, the mother of sole witness Aradhna, Ruchika?s friend, said, ?The decision (to withdraw police medals of convicted officers) is a very good step and I am very happy. It is a ray of hope.?
?Our struggle (to get justice for Ruchika and her family) has started showing results. I am hopeful that our case will soon reach its logical end,? she said.
The Congress welcomed the move. ?We support it (the decision to strip Rathore of his medal). This is in the domain of the government,? party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters in Delhi.
