Give us exact number of surviving freedom fighters: HC to Centre

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday expressed its surprise when the standing counsel for the Union government stated that at present,over 53,000 freedom fighters and eligible dependents were drawing pension from the government.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday expressed its surprise when the standing counsel for the Union government stated that at present,over 53,000 freedom fighters and eligible dependents were drawing pension from the government.

During the resumed hearing of a PIL filed by Advocate H C Arora,a division bench asked the counsel: How can there be any dependents withdrawing pension at this stage,65 years after Independence… Are you including the dead freedom fighters as well as their ineligible dependents?

Following this,the counsel sought more time to file a detailed reply.

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The bench,however,directed the Centre to state the exact figure of surviving freedom fighters by removing from government records the names of those dead and ineligible dependents.

In the PIL,the petitioner has sought directions to the Centre to give concession in air travel charges to the surviving freedom fighters by treating them at par with war widows,war heroes and gallantry award winners who get 75 per cent concession. Freedom fighters,on the other hand,get only 50 per cent concession in air fare. The petition will now come up for hearing on October 5.

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