The Punjab and Haryana High Court in the case Sarbjit Singh v. State of Punjab & Ors observed and has directed the Punjab Government in order to pay compensation for an amount of Rs. 5 lakhs for making procrastinated delay in the allotment of land to the family members of the deceased, who being the Indian Army Soldier, he was martyred during the Indo-Pakistan war in the year 1971.
The division bench comprising of Justice Sureshwar Thakur and Justice Kuldeep Tiwari in the case observed that the State of Punjab shall forthwith make atonements, and, expiations for the gross apathy, which it has shown in order for the surviving members of the soldier, thus, who laid down fighting for the nation. Therefore, the said allotment in the case shall occurred only upon its forthwith remitting a sum of Rs. 5 Lacs to the petitioner, but as compensation, for the above procrastinated delay and for its devaluated value of the eminent services in the Indian Army, as rendered by the deceased brother of the petitioner.
In the present case, the plea was filed by the petitioner, who being the brother of the deceased soldier wherein directing the State to make allotments of land to the family members of the deceased martyr and has further relief for an entry in the record of revenue.
Further, the court was also being informed by the State that in its affidavit dated 15.12.2022, wherein seeking relief sought by the petitioner has been made.
The counsel appearing for the State submitted before the court that there being no policy in prevalence at the relevant time, when it has been laid down by the brother of the petitioner that his life in fighting for the nation during Indo-Pakistan war.
In the said case, it has also been averred by the court that non-existence of any policy was neither a sufficient cause nor a valid ground for the State, for not making a special grant as the measure of honour, to the services which are being done to the country by the deceased soldier.
It has also been directed by the court that the State Government is to pay an amount of Rs. 5 lakhs as a compensation to the petitioner for the procrastinated delay and for devaluing the eminent services which are rendered by the deceased brother of the petitioner as a soldier in the Indian Army.