State is dragging 1971 war hero to SC

After compelling a 1971 war hero to run from pillar to post for nearly 47 years for securing his "rightful" benefits, the Maharashtra government is repeating the ‘humiliating’ experience yet again – only this time it is dragging the `71 war hero to the Supreme Court.

Hindurao Ingale, 70, who was posted as a special vehicle driver in the "216 Medium Regiment," was made to wait for nearly 47 long years to secure benefits promised by the government. The then Maharashtra government had issued a GR in 1971 promising to allot lands - for agricultural and residential purposes to all army men, who sustained injuries while in service.

Ingale was not aware of such a scheme introduced by the government until April 2018, when his own residential land was encroached by some authorities. His case was recommended to the government by the Commandment Officer, who headed Ingale's unit. Since then, Ingale has been writing letters to various authorities, right from the district collector of Satara (his hometown), to the Union Home Ministry in Delhi. He even cited the permanent disability in one of his legs caused because of the aggravated injury that he had sustained during the war.

However, all his efforts were in vain and finally yielded some results in February this year when his matter was heard by a division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Riyaz Chagla. The judges, after hearing his plea filed through advocate Rajeshwar Panchal, expressed shock over the government’s approach in its treatment of the ex-service man.

The judges accordingly directed the government to extend all the benefits, as promised in the GR, within three months. The judges even imposed a cost of Rs 50, 000 on the government, which was

to be paid to Ingale. However in another shock for Ingale, the government has now decided to challenge Justice Oka’s orders in the Supreme Court.

This was confirmed by a letter addressed by the Satara District Collector to Ingale. The letter states that as per the HC orders, the government has decided to pay off the cost of Rs 50,000 imposed upon it. “The letter further states that the government is planning to approach the Apex Court to challenge the HC orders,” advocate Panchal claims.

“If the government moves the top court, then it would be a most shameful act, especially when it is handing out much land for various projects. I fail to understand why it can’t give some piece of land to my client, which is his right,” Panchal queried.