26/11 awards row: HC seeks Centre’s response

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court Monday asked the Centre to file an affidavit within six weeks in reply to a petition demanding ‘Ashok Chakra’ as well as other gallantry awards for officers, belonging to various agencies, who had fought terrorists during the 26/11 terror attacks in the city. The direction was given by a bench headed by Justices P V Hardas and Girish Kulkarni on a PIL filed by social activist Ketan Tirodkar. CBI had informed the court earlier that the Union government had rejected a proposal sent by Maharashtra to confer gallantry awards on fire brigade personnel.