NEW DELHI:  Medals and honours are heaped on soldiers who have served their country with blood and lives. On Republic Day, 50 highly decorated Lieutenant Generals of the Indian Army were conferred awards for ‘distinguished service’. Ironically, majority of them are based either in Delhi or in peace posts. Seventy-five per cent of the medals have gone to them while only 25 per cent have been given to mid-level officers who are involved in counter-insurgency operations and numerically the largest combat force.

A day before January 26, the Army Headquarters issued a list of awardees for their gallantry and distinguished services. However, the list of recipients of Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) and Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM) is dominated by three-star generals.

This comes at a time when India is celebrating the centenary year of World War I, during which Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award, was given to Darwan Singh Negi, a Naik in the Ist Battalion of 39th Garwal Rifles.

Colonel Dharamveer Singh Suhag, the serving Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag’s younger brother, has been conferred distinguished service awards for the last two successive years, while his Delhi-based unit has also been awarded the Chief’s Unit Citation, commending the hard work done by it. The Colonel, an infantry officer posted as the Army Headquarters camp commanding officer, has been given Sena Medal for distinguished service this year, while he had received the VSM last year.

All 20 PVSMs and five UYSMs were given to Lieutenant Generals. Generals posted in peace stations have received 17 AVSMs of the total of 29, all three Bar to AVSMs (‘Bar’ means repeated) and four VSMs. This takes the figure of distinguished service awards to 187, of which 138 have gone to star ranks (almost 75 per cent), which comprise Lieutenant Generals, Major Generals and Brigadiers.

Military sources claim that only 25 per cent of these medals have been conferred on middle-rank officers. The selection of these distinguished services awards raises questions about the manner in which they were given mainly to top generals, though they at times have spent their times in trenches. It is the Honours and Awards Committee, headed by the Chief of Army Staff, which shortlists the awards.

Distinguished service awards are given for the “most exceptional, exceptional and high order” to all ranks of the armed forces while gallantry medals are awarded for action in combat.

An Army officer, on condition of anonymity said, “Why not recommend names of middle-level officers for these awards such as majors of engineers, who have built roads in inaccessible and tough terrain? That would be recognising true leadership.”

He also asked why the Army does not award hardworking, industrious and dedicated middle-level officers or JCOs. “Then the organisation would have shown that it really recognises selfless service. Or award a Subedar or a Subedar Major for distinguished service with an AVSM or PVSM,” said another officer.

The Two Generals against whom CBI inquiry has been initiated by MOD  FOR disproportionate assets are included in the list of awardees.