Stating that it was a matter of concern, the Delhi High Court has agreed to hear a public interest litigation seeking martyr status for police and paramilitary personnel on the same level as that accorded to the defence forces who lose their lives in the line of duty.
The petition stated that the honour of being a martyr still eluded these personnel despite around 31,895 lives being sacrificed by them in the line of duty for the last 53 years. Various representations in this regard had been made to the Home Ministry, but to no avail.
“The personnel of the three armed forces of the country, namely the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, are called martyr or shaheed when they are killed during duty, but unfortunately the men/women of police and paramilitary forces who are killed in anti-Naxal operations, rendering internal security duties and guarding our borders in extreme conditions are not given the stature of a martyr or shaheed ,” reads the petition filed by an advocate.
July 29 has been fixed as the next date of hearing.
