Spell out policy on giving land to ex-servicemen: HC tells Maharashtra

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court today asked Maharashtra government to spell out its policy on providing land to retired defence personnel by replying to a petition seeking a five acre plot from the state government for an ex-service man.

The petition was filed by Sudhakar Pundlik Jadhav who retired from Indian Air Force on June 30, 1980 in Deolali, Nasik, after 20 years of combat service. He applied for a five-acre plot to the Collector in Jalgaon, his native place, in keeping with the government policy.

A bench of Justices Abhay Oka and Reveti Mohite Dhere asked the state if there was any such policy to allot land to retired defence personnel who are landless.

The government counsel sought time to seek instructions and the matter was adjourned by two weeks.

The petitioner annexed a state government Resolution dated May 14, 1968, and a Resolution of the government of India dated April 25, 1967, which said that vacant, surplus and uncultivated land should be alloted to defence personnel for their rehabilitation after retirement.

The petitioner further said he had accordingly applied for a 5-acre plot of land at village Padur Kasbe in Jamner taluka of Jalgaon district on January 29, 1987, through the Commanding Officer of the Air Force. Thereafter, he had sent several reminders but the authorities are yet to respond to his application.