Tamil Nadu Freedom Fighters’ Legal Heirs’ Association on Monday petitioned the Collector here, demanding allocation of houses under the Chief Minister’s Solar-Powered Green House Scheme.
N. Vijayaraghavan, president of the association, said that though they had won a legal battle challenging the allocation of land to 21 freedom fighters, they had not received any assistance from the district administration in constructing houses. “The land was initially allocated in Vilacheri and Vadapalanji but was cancelled later citing numerous frivolous reasons. After a protracted struggle, 21 freedom fighters were allocated land in Manjampatti and another 20 in Nilaiyur,” he said.
However, he said that the beneficiaries were not able to use the land as a few residents of Manjampatti filed a case in the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court. “The court ordered in November 2016 that the allocation was valid,” he said.
“Moreover, the court also directed the District Collector to provide all other benefits to the freedom fighters for which they are entitled to,” he added.
He alleged that despite multiple requests they had not received assistance for construction of houses even though many of the freedom fighters in the district did not have housing facility.
The petitioners said that they would go on a fast on Republic Day as a mark of protest if the district administration did not take adequate action to sanction houses. They also mooted periodic meetings exclusively to hear grievances of freedom fighters and their legal heirs.