Bombay high court turns down freedom fighter’s pension plea

Freedom fighter Pardo Kewalram Ailani, 92, has been directed by the Bombay high court to withdraw his pension application as he had no proof that he was sentenced to death penalty during the British period for taking part in the ‘Quit India Movement’.

Ailani, who resides in Ulhasnagar had moved to the high court challenging the centre’s decision of turning down his request for pension.

According to the petition in 1943 he was arrested by the police for waging a war against the British people and was sentenced to death punishment.

Later, he fled from the prison.

Advocate LM Acharrya, appearing for Ailani said, “As per the centre’s pension rules, a minimum of six months sentence has to be served by the freedom fighter for which he has to have a fellow inmate’s certificate as a proof stating that he was there in the prison. He has nothing so the court was of the view that it is not a fit case to be allowed”.

Acharrya said that a division bench of justices VC Daga and RG Ketkar, observed that, “To avoid any embarrassment to Ailani by rejecting his plea as he is recognised as a freedom fighter by the state, it directed us to withdraw the petition and come with necessary proofs to substantiate our claims.”