DARSHAN SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE challenge in the writ petition is to the condition in the brochure issued by respondent No. 3 for allotment of plots in Eco -City, Greater Mohali Area Development Authority, PUDA Bhawan, Sector 62, Mohali, Punjab whereby the dependents and the wards of the freedom fighters, i.e. widow, children and grand -children who have been granted freedom lighter pension from the Punjab Government are not eligible for applying for plots against the 2% quota reserved for freedom fighters.

(2.) THE petitioner, in support of his argument that there should be reservation for plots as stated above, placed reliance upon instructions dated 04.04.1985 and subsequent circular dated 10.07.2001. The said circular provides for reservation in the Department of Technical Education & Industrial Training, seats in Medical Colleges, for direct recruitment in the State Services and in residential plots.

(3.) PRIMA facie, we find that reservation for the dependents of freedom fighters i.e. sons and daughters may not be justified at this stage. One can understand, if reservation as provided to the dependents, who could not educate themselves on account of participation of their bread winner in freedom struggle. But once such dependents are born in free India without any disability, we find that the reservation granted to such dependents of freedom fighters may not meet the test of reasonable classification under Article 14 of the Constitution of India. Since such issue has not been debated, we say no more at this stage. But keeping in view the fact that the petitioner is asking for reservation, as a son of freedom fighter, we find that the action of respondent No. 3 for not providing reservation under 2% quota in Freedom Fighters category, cannot be said to be unjustified.