HC fumes as land denied to freedom fighter’s widow

● JUSTICE SHARMA observed that it was unfortunate that the revenue wing were allowing encroachers to occupy acres of government land, but could not find a meagre 300 sq. yards of land to the family of the freedom fighter.

Reacting to an instance where revenue authorities and the Telangana government making an aged and illiterate widow of a freedom fighter to run from pillar to post for years together for her rightful claim of getting residential land from the government under the freedom fighters quota, the Telangana High Court asked the authorities to keep in mind the sacrifices of freedom fighters due to which we were breathing in a free country.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili was unhappy with the attitude of revenue authorities, who could not find a 300 sq. yards of residential land in part of Hanamkonda district for five years to allocate it to the widow of a freedom fighter.

The bench was dealing with the petition filed Bairoju Chulkamma, widow of freedom fighter late B. Lakshmiah, resident of Hanamkonda, Warangal Urban, approached the High Court, aggrieved by the decision of the Telangana government, in allotting 80 square yard plot to her instead of a 300 square yard plot under the freedom fighter’s quota as she was eligible for it.

Reacting to the submission of the government counsel Ravinder Reddy, who stated that there was no government land available, Justice Sharma observed that it was unfortunate that the revenue wing were allowing encroachers to occupy acres of government land, but could not find a meagre 300 sq. yards of land to the family of the freedom fighter.

Further, the Chief Justice said, “Think over on whose sacrifices and efforts we are living in a free country and everyone breathing freely. Their families cannot be made to go before the authorities to beg for their rightful claim of allotment of a 300 square plot. This claim of the widow of freedom fighter is her right and she is eligible for such a claim.”

The bench directed the government to allot 300 sq. yards to the petitioner, within one month. The state government in 1997 issued GO 185, providing 300 sq. yards of land to the freedom fighters and their widows.