The Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances, Government of India informed me that the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Defence rejected my petition on May 31, 2016. The notification simply mentions, “Case Closed.” Apparently, this decision is not made by the Indian Army Chief of Army Staff or the Prime Minister of India.
Rudra Narasimham Rebbapragada
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-4162 USA
SPECIAL FRONTIER FORCE
:: Grievance Status ::
Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS)
Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances
Government of India
Grievance Status
Status as on 05 Jun 2016
Registration Number: DARPG/E/2013/82606
Name Of Complainant: R R Narasimham
Date of Receipt: 07 Sep 2013
Received by: Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances
Forwarded to : D Ceremonials
Contact Address: Room No. 363V B South Block, New Delhi, 110011.
Contact Number: 23011872
Grievance Description:
Dear Sir, or Madam,
This grievance pertains to the following petitions registered by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances. 1. MODEF/E/2011/00761 dated 24 Sep 2011, 2. CABST/E/2012/00154 dated 26 May 2012, 3. DARPG/E/2013/82597 dated 07 Sep 2013, and 4. MODEF/E/2013/01709 dated 05 Sep 2013.
A gallantry award is granted in recognition of a past event and the gallant action would always exist as a past event.
2. In the history of the Republic of India, for the first time during 1971, the Prime Minister sanctioned a military action that was not planned by Army/Ministry of Defence.
3. Operation Eagle in which I had the honor to participate was not planned and executed under orders issued by Army Headquarters/Ministry of Defence.
4. The gallant action did not happen in the context of a border skirmish or that of a border conflict. It was not related to the Official War between India and Pakistan that was declared by the Prime Minister on 04 December 1971.
5. The gallant action pertains to a deliberate, planned attack deep inside the territory defended by the Enemy’s Regular Army. I had marched with the men to participate in the attack.
6. The battlefield casualties were treated at the Enemy Post we captured and not in Indian territory. This was a special operation which did not cater for a Regimental Aid Post and a Advanced Dressing Station to provide medical care and support in the field.
7. There was no Regimental Aid Post at the border, inside Indian territory. The treatment of battle casualties began at the site of the battle, about 40 miles from the border.
8. The Brigade Headquarters which had the primary responsibility for airlifting of battle casualties could not dispatch the helicopter as the Prime Minister did not sanction the violation of Pakistan’s airspace during the first phase of Operation Eagle in the month of November 1971.
9. I, as the Unit Medical Officer, went beyond the call of my duty to ensure a safe evacuation of the battlefield casualties. To get the airlift support to evacuate my casualties to the Field Hospital, I marched a distance of over 40 miles to reach the Border Security Force helipad. Then I walked back to my Unit to complete my task inside the Enemy territory while the Enemy was still dispersed in the area.
10. The Indian Army concluded its phase of military operations inside Bangladesh on 16 December 1971 when the Enemy totally surrendered. However, Operation Eagle concluded its military operation during January 1972.
11. The fact that the Prime Minister established the eligibility criteria for the sanction of military awards, honors and decorations to the participants of Operation Eagle could be proved by the simple fact that the Gallantry Award of Vir Chakra was given to Shri. G B Velankar, a civilian officer of my Unit who was allowed the use of Major’s rank on an honorary basis.
12. Under the battle plan of Operation Eagle, to grant military awards, the Prime Minister did not impose any time constraints as it was not a battle operation launched by the Indian Army.
13. The citation that recommended the grant of Vir Chakra for my gallant action during Operation Eagle was initiated by Lieutenant Colonel B K Narayan, the South Column Unit Commander, it was reviewed and recommended by Brigade Commander, Brigadier T S Oberoi VrC, and it was finally approved and recommended by the Formation Commander, Major General Sujan Singh Uban, the Inspector General, Special Frontier Force.
14. Special Frontier Force had strictly followed the guidelines included in the battle plan of Operation Eagle and the citation was directly submitted to the Director of Medical Services (Army), Medical Directorate, Army Headquarters, New Delhi before the conclusion of Operation Eagle.
15. I am not responsible for delivering the citation to the MS Branch, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi while I am on operational duty in the field. If the Medical Directorate had failed in the performance of its duty, I should not be penalized.
Current Status: CASE CLOSED
Date of Action: 31 May 2016
Details: Appropriate reply has been sent to the complainant. Maybe closed.
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