IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATES OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CWP No.21767 of 2008 Date of decision: March 4, 2009. Kashmir Singh ...Petitioner(s) v. Union of India & Ors. ...Respondent(s) CORAM:HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURYA KANT 1. Whether Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment ? 2. Whether to be referred to the Reporters or not ? 3. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest? Present: Shri Rajiv Anand, Advocate for the petitioner. Mrs. K.K. Kahlon, Advocate for respondent(s) No.1 & 2. Shri S.S. Gill, Deputy Advocate General, Punjab for respondent No.3. ORDER Surya Kant, J. - (Oral): The petitioner seeks a direction for the grant of Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension under the Scheme notified by the State of Punjab and the Union of India. The petitioner is stated to have undergone imprisonment in the Central Jail at Lahore from 20.10.1942 to 19.10.1943 for his participation in the Quit India Movement. In fact, the petitioner was granted the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension by the State of Punjab vide an order dated 30.10.1998 (Annexure P-2). It appears that the Union of India through the Ministry of External Affairs vide their letter dated 29.6.2000 (Annexure P-3) addressed to the Indian High Commission in Islamabad sought verification of the petitioner's detention in the Central Jail at Lahore. It further appears that on account of some doubts raised by the Jail authorities, the Union of India has not taken any decision regarding the petitioner's entitlement and has asked the State of Punjab for verification of the petitioner's claim. The petitioner on his part is stated to have produced certificates/affidavits of his co-prisoners in support of his claim. Those certificates etc. were sent by the Govt. of Punjab, the Department of Freedom Fighters Pension to the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana for verification on 6.1.2005. The reply affidavit by the State of Punjab reveals that the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana has not sent the verification report so far. Resultantly, no final view regarding the petitioner's eligibility for the subject pension has been formed by the State Govt. or the Central Govt. In these circumstances, I deem it appropriate to dispose of this writ petition with a direction to the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana to verify the genuineness of the certificates/affidavits etc., if any, submitted by the petitioner obtained from his co-prisoners and send a report to the State Govt. within two months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order. As soon as the report is received, the Govt. of Punjab shall take an appropriate decision in accordance with law within a period of one month thereafter. Dasti. March 4, 2009. [ Surya Kant ] kadyan Judge