IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Civil Writ Petition No.16616 of 2010 Date of Decision : September 16, 2010. Piara Singh .....Petitioner versus Union of India and others .....Respondents CORAM : HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SURYA KANT. Present : Mr.Daljit Singh Rajput, Advocate, for the petitioner. Mr.K.D.S.Sidhu, Deputy Advocate General, Punjab. -.- 1. Whether Reporters of Local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? 2. To be referred to the Reporters or not? 3. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest? --- Surya Kant, J. (Oral) Notice of motion. Mr.K.D.S.Sidhu, learned Deputy Advocate General, Punjab accepts notice on behalf of respondent Nos.2 to 4. In view of the nature of order which I propose to pass, there is no need to call upon respondent No.1 or seek counter-reply from respondent Nos.2 to 4 at this stage. The petitioner seeks a mandamus to direct the respondents to grant him Swatantra Sainik Samman Pension. The petitioner asserts that he had become prisoner of the Japanese in the year 1942 during the period of Second World War being a member of the Indian National Army. The C.W.P.No .16616 of 2010 2 petitioner was allegedly tried by the British Military and said to have remained lodged in Vidhaya Dhari Detention Camp Singapore w.e.f. August, 1945 to April, 1946. Based upon these facts and relying upon certain certificates allegedly given by his co-prisoners, the petitioner has represented the respondent-authorities to acknowledge him as a 'Freedom Fighter' and grant him the Swatantra Sainik Samman Pension. It is further averred that no action has been taken by the respondents in this regard despite his repeated representations. Having heard learned counsel for the petitioner at some length and keeping in view the averments made in the writ petition, it appears that the authorities in the State of Punjab are required to verify the claim of the petitioner. The writ petition is accordingly disposed of with a direction to respondent Nos.2 to 4 to hold a fact finding enquiry and in case the petitioner's claim is found to be true and genuine, recommend his case for the grant of Swatantra Sainik Samman Pension. The needful shall be done within a period of four months from the date of receiving a certified copy of this order. Dasti. September 16, 2010 (SURYA KANT) Mohinder JUDGE