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2026 Supreme(Online)(Kar) 27851
THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
Suraj Govindaraj, J
G C Eregowda – Appellant
Versus
State of Karnataka – Respondent
WP No. 16296 of 2026
For the Appellants/Petitioners: Parameswaraiah D. C.
For the Respondents: Mohammed Jaffar Shah
The conferment of a government honor or medal is a discretionary privilege granted by competent authorities, and no person possesses a vested legal right to compel a recommendation for such an award.
Headnote:The petitioner filed a writ petition under Art. 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India seeking to quash an endorsement denying the recommendation for a police service medal and requesting a writ of mandamus for the same. The court addressed whether an individual can claim the conferment of a state honour as a vested legal right. The court framed the issue as whether the refusal to recommend a candidate for a police medal constitutes a violation of legal rights. The court held that the grant of a medal is an honour and a privilege bestowed by authorities based on an assessment of merit, and no individual possesses a vested right to demand such a recommendation. The petition stands dismissed.
| Table of Content |
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| 1. petitioner seeks judicial review of the denial of a medal recommendation. (Para 1 , 2) |
| 2. conferment of honors is a discretionary privilege, not a vested right. (Para 3 , 4) |
THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE IMPUGNED ENDORSEMENT DATED 11.12.2025 PASSED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT REGISTRAR, KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA, BENGALURU IN NO.LOK/ADALITA-2/01/2020-21 VIDE ANNEXURE-Z AND ETC.
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ
ORAL ORDER
1. The petitioner is before this Court seeking the following reliefs:
a) Issue a writ in the nature of Certiorari quashing the impugned endorsement dated 11.12.2025 passed by the 2nd respondent Registrar, Karnataka Lokayukta, Bengaluru in No. Lok/Adalita 2/01/2020-21 vide Annexure-Z.
b) Issue a writ in the nature of mandamus, directing the 2nd respondent Registrar, Karnataka Lokayukta, Bengaluru, to consider the representation dated 15.10.2025 vide Annexure-Y, thereby, recommend the name of the petitioner for President's Police Medal on the occasion of next Independence Day, in the interest of justice and equity.
c) Pass any other or directions which this Hon'ble Court deems fit, under the facts and circumstances of the case, in the interest of justice and equity.”
2. What is essentially challenged is the endorsement issued by the second respondent denying the request made by the petitioner for recommendation to the concerned authorities for conferring the President's Gold Medal to the petitioner being a Police Constable, and thereafter for a mandamus to recommend the petitioner for President's Police Medal on the occasion of the next Independence Day.
3. Conferment of a Medal is an honour and a privilege which is conferred by the concerned authorities after examination of the relevant documents. No person can claim as a matter of right for conferment of such a Medal. There is no vested right in any police personnel seeking for recommendation to be made for conferment of a Police Medal, let alone the President's Police Medal.
4. In that view of the matter, no grounds are made out by the petitioner. Petition stands dismissed.
