Now, kin can wear gallantry awards

New Delhi: Now the family members of the decorated soldiers can wear their medals on the chest. A fresh order by Indian Army gives permission to the next of kin of the decorated soldiers who have died to wear their medals on the right chest. The soldiers wear their medals on the left.

The order is for the family persons of ex-servicemen. This has been done to instil a sense of pride among the next of kin, including second and third generation lineage, the Indian Army said in its order.

The medals are currently to be worn only by persons on whom these are conferred while serving or as ex-servicemen according to Regulations for the Army, 1978 (Revised Edition). Recently, some next of kin (NoK) of ex-servicemen have expressed a need to honour the services of their late ex-servicemen by sporting his or her medals on specified occasions. The matter was examined and it is felt by the army that this practice will instill a sense of pride amongst the next of kin, including second and third generation lineage. While there are no instructions in this regard, there is a similar practice in some countries.

"It has hence been decided that family medals may be worn on right chest by next of kin of ex-servicemen of Indian Army, when attending homage ceremonies at war memorials, cemeteries and funerals," said an order by the Indian Army. Serving persons, if attired in formal civil dress, when attending homage ceremonies may also sport family medals.

“It may be disseminated to all concerned that family medals (spouse/parents /forefather’s/children) may be worn on the right chest on the aforementioned occasions only, while donning appropriate formal civil attire,” it said. In case more than one set of family medals are available, then only one set will be worn as per choice of the service persons/ next of kin, it added.