PAHLAD SINGH Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) . By this writ petition, the petitioners have sought for quashing of the letters dated 6th October, 1981, 3rd January, 1983 and 29th July, 1986, whereby the respondent No.1 rejected the applications filed by the petitioners praying for grant of freedom fighter pension to the petitioners.

(2.) . The petitioners have contended that they were the employees of the Delhi Police and were posted at Police Lines in March, 1946. Around that time a police revolt took place which was popularly known as Delhi Police Revolt which was directed against the British Empire. It is stated that the petitioners participated in the said revolt and a criminal case was also instituted against the petitioners in pursuance of filing of an FIR under the Defence of India Rules and the service of the petitioners were terminated. All the petitioners rely upon the scheme of the Central Government for awarding pension to freedom fighters and their families from the Central Revenue and state that the aforesaid revolt namely Delhi Police Revolt was also a part of the freedom movement and, therefore, they are entitled to the benefit of the aforesaid scheme of the Central Government.

(3.) . The petitioners also submitted their application for grant of the aforesaid pension and also submitted documents in support of their claims to the competent authority. The Committee constituted by the Haryana Government considered the application of the petitioner No.1 and the said Committee found the petitioner No.1 to be a genuine freedom fighter. Since, however, there was a Central Government circular whereunder it was instructed that the aforesaid Delhi Police Revolt could not be considered as a part of the freedom movement, the Committee did not take any final decision and requested for a clarification from the Central Government on the issue.