Court seeks govt reply on free travel for freedom fighters

Chandigarh: Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed for free travel facility in government airlines — Indian Airlines and Air India — for surviving freedom fighters and their spouses, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday observed that the facility of free air travel would be an honour for them and would not cost the country much.
A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice AG Masih observed, ''How many are they? Only a handful. How many of them would like to travel at this old age? Hardly a few of them. If some other categories of citizens are allowed the facility of free air travel, why cannot the freedom fighters be granted the facility of free air travel.''
The bench directed central government counsel Onkar Singh Batalvi to file a reply on the issue within four weeks.
The matter had reached before the HC following a PIL filed by advocate HC Arora seeking directions to Union aviation ministry to grant free travel facility in government airlines to the surviving freedom fighters and their souses.
The petitioner had contended that as per news reports of October 31, Air India has extended the facility of 75% discount in economy class to war widows and gallantry awardees, etc, but no such facility has been extended to surviving freedom fighters and their spouse/widows, who are just treated as senior citizens and are given 45% discount under that category.
08/01/11 Times of India

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Categories: Air India - International Jan 2011, Air India Domestic Jan 2010, Air India Jan 2011