NASIB KAUR Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) A Freedom Fighter's widow having failed to persuade Union of India to grant her Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension, has approached this Court through the present petition. A few facts may be noticed.

(2.) Battan Singh, a Freedom Fighter filed C.W.P. No. 5803 of 1990. He averred that he had joined under Netaji Subhash Chander Bose in the Indian National Army in March, 1942 as a Sepoy. He served under the command of Col. Gurmit Singh and Company Commander Narain Singh. He was apprehended and arrested by the British Army. He was kept under detention for about 7 months of IPPO City in Burma. In recognition of his contribution to the freedom of the country, he was awarded a 'Tamra Pattar' by the Prime Minister of India, Smt. Indira Gandi in Aug., 1972. The 'Tamra Pattar' was actually handed over to the petitioner in a ceremony held at Amritsar which was presided over by the then Chief Minister of Punjab Giani Zail Singh.

(3.) The Punjab Govt. published a booklet on Feb. 23, 1974. In this booklet the names of all freedom fighters and members of the I.N.A. who were awarded the 'Tamra Pattar' were mentioned. The petitioner's husband's name finds mention in this list at serial No. 17. A photo copy of the relevant extract of this booklet has been produced by the learned counsel for the petitioner and has been placed on record as Mark 'A'. The factum of this booklet having been published is duly mentioned in the writ petition. The original was shown at the time of hearing.