The Punjab and Haryana High Court, while hearing a petition of the brother of the 1971 Indo-Pak war martyr, issued notice to the Government of Punjab and the Director of the Defence Services Welfare Branch to file their replies by April 19.
The bench of Justice Tejinder Singh Dhindsa issued notice while hearing the petition of Manohar Singh of Begowal (Ludhiana).
The petitioner has demanded a grant of Rs 50 lakh from the Punjab government. The petitioner stated in the petition that his brother Sohan Singh was martyred in the 1971 war. It was announced that 10 acres of land will be given to the families of martyrs on behalf of the Punjab government. Later, the government decided to give a grant of Rs 50 lakh in lieu of land by changing the rules. The petitioner’s father urged the government several times to give 10 acres of land, but has not got any relief from the government.
The petitioner further stated that the state government issued a notification on June 20, 2018, announcing that if the martyred soldiers were unmarried, the grant money would be paid to their parents, who were alive on the day of martyrdom.
The petitioner was informed on August 13, 2020 on behalf of the Punjab government that he was not entitled to the grant as he had not applied before January 4, 2010. According to the petitioner, his father had already applied. He is entitled to the grant after being the only surviving member in the family after the parents’ death in 2011, claimed the petitioner.