Fictitious Claims Of Honorarium By Persons Claiming To Be Freedom Fighter Is To Be Dealt With Sternly: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court has dismissed a petition filed by M V Srinivasa Gowda, challenging an order passed by Deputy Commissioner, Kolar District, directing initiation of proceedings against him to recover the entire amount paid as honorarium to him under the Karnataka State Freedom Fighters Welfare Rules, 1969. A division bench of Justice S G Pandit and Justice Ramachandra D Huddar said “All care has to be taken to see that real freedom fighters do not suffer and their claims are accepted, but, at the same time, fictitious claims have to be sternly dealt with on merits.” Background A complaint was made by one Nagaraj on August 1, 2015 alleging that the petitioner is falsely claiming honorarium by producing fabricated documents. But, the complaint allegations as per the petition averments show that, this petitioner is receiving the freedom fighter's honorarium by producing the fabricated documents. orders or an The bench then said “In this case, no such documents are made available to show that really the petitioner had participated in the freedom struggle.” Following which it held “We are of the considered view that, by entertaining applications like the one presented by the petitioner without any proof regarding his participation in freedom struggle which has been dealt with by the respondent no.1 to 5 on investigation and directing to take necessary action to get refund of the honorarium received, cannot be found fault with.” It added “If such applications are entertained, the scheme would be converted into a bounty and those who have actually rendered valuable sacrifices may remain deprived.