Stating that it cannot pass any direction on the issue of giving martyr status to freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru, the Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed a petition seeking directions from the court. 

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A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar said "the plea is dismissed. We cannot issue such a direction." The court dismissed the plea after the petitioner failed to reply to the court's query on whether there is any law under which the court has the power to issue any such direction.

The plea filed by advocate Birender Sangwan had sought granting of 'shaheed' (martyr) status to Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru, who were hanged by the Britishers in 1931. "The grant of 'shaheed' status is very much essential for HC a martyr and it is the legal right of a martyr to have such a status declared to them, thus it is an expression of gratitude towards them," the plea had contended. 

In 1928, Bhagat Singh and Rajguru had shot a British junior police officer, John Saunders in Lahore, in present-day Pakistan, mistaking him for a British police superintendent. A special tribunal was constituted by Lord Irwin, the then Viceroy of India.