Telangana HC pulls up government apathy to give land to freedom fighter’s widow under scheme

A freedom fighter’s widow is to get a 300 square yards (sq yds) plot in Telangana within a month, on the orders of the Telangana High Court.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili pulled up the state government for its failure to allot 300 sq yds to Bairoju Chulkamma, widow of freedom fighter B Lakshimiah, and a resident of Hanamkonda, Warangal Urban. The land was to be allotted to her under a government scheme to give 300 sq yds residential land to freedom fighters. The state government had issued the order (number 185) in 1997 to provide land to freedom fighters or their surviving spouse.

Chulkamma was given a mere 80 sq yds of land and the government counsel told the court that no government land was available to give to the claimant. Reacting to this, Justice Sharma observed that it was unfortunate that the revenue department is allowing encroachers to occupy acres of government land, but cannot find a meagre 300 sq yds of land for the freedom fighter’s widow.

“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 Chief Justice said. He then directed the government to allot the land to Chulkamma within a month.