
89-year-old still awaits land granted to her freedom fighter husband in 1969
This is how NK Lalithambika, 89-year-old widow of a freedom fighter from Tumakuru district, complained to Upa Lokayukta Justice B Veerappa against the state authorities, who she alleged neither handed over the possession of a 4-acre 'hillock' land granted to her husband in 1969 nor allotted any alternative land, under the Freedom Fighters Quota.
The tragic part is that, after her husband TS Virupakshappa died, Lalithambika has been fighting for the possession of the land for 39 years, which is more than the period her husband fought for freedom. The land was allotted in Survey No. 26, Plot No. 7 at Vaddarahalli village in Tumakuru taluk in 1969.
Disheartened by her battle, Justice Veerappa wrote to the Revenue Minister in the first week of August, stating that the land allotted was a 'hillock' that was unfit for cultivation. Even if it is considered, neither the possession of the said land was handed over, nor was an alternative land allotted to the elderly lady.
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New Indian Express
3 days ago
- New Indian Express
89-year-old still awaits land granted to her freedom fighter husband in 1969
BENGALURU: 'Nowhere in the world's history, in any civilisation, has such an inordinate delay been caused by any government. A delay of 55 years is an insult to the term humanity. Therefore, Revenue Department officials in Tumakuru should be honoured with a 'Special Service Medal' in recognition of their 'meritorious service'...' This is how NK Lalithambika, 89-year-old widow of a freedom fighter from Tumakuru district, complained to Upa Lokayukta Justice B Veerappa against the state authorities, who she alleged neither handed over the possession of a 4-acre 'hillock' land granted to her husband in 1969 nor allotted any alternative land, under the Freedom Fighters Quota. The tragic part is that, after her husband TS Virupakshappa died, Lalithambika has been fighting for the possession of the land for 39 years, which is more than the period her husband fought for freedom. The land was allotted in Survey No. 26, Plot No. 7 at Vaddarahalli village in Tumakuru taluk in 1969. Disheartened by her battle, Justice Veerappa wrote to the Revenue Minister in the first week of August, stating that the land allotted was a 'hillock' that was unfit for cultivation. Even if it is considered, neither the possession of the said land was handed over, nor was an alternative land allotted to the elderly lady.


Hans India
4 days ago
- Hans India
Odisha Minister urges striking District Revenue employees to return to work
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari on Wednesday appealed to the District Revenue Ministerial Employees to call off their mass leave strike and return to their work immediately. The minister noted that the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of the Revenue Department has directed all Collectors to reject leave applications, treat absences as unauthorised, and enforce the "No Work, No Pay" rule. Minister Pujari warned that if employees do not return to duty, their roles could be abolished, and the Revenue Department may consider modifying its software to reduce dependency on them. The government appealed to employees to resume work immediately to ensure that poor citizens are not deprived of revenue services. Revenue Minister Pujari said that in a democratic setup, strikes should be the last resort and dialogue is always the best way forward. The proposal for restructuring the revenue employees' cadre has already been sent to the General Administration (GA) Department for a final decision. He cautioned that mass leave is not a healthy sign, as it deprives the people of Odisha of essential revenue services. Over 10,000 revenue ministerial employees across all 30 districts have been on mass leave since Monday over a charter of 10 demands. The employees alleged that they had earlier staged a protest wearing black badges in July. The state government had then assured them that their demands would be fulfilled within a month. Their demands include restructuring the revenue employees' cadre, an increase in the initial pay, health insurance of Rs 20 lakh, 100 per cent promotion in Odisha Revenue Service for the Revenue Ministerial Employees, among others. Earlier, the Revenue Department ACS Deoranajan Kumar Singh directed the District Collectors to issue show-cause notices against those absent without authorisation. The salaries of the employees will be withheld for the period of unauthorised absence. The unauthorised leave period will also be treated as a break in service and recorded in the service book. Singh also stated that the non-availability of field-level revenue personnel has disrupted key public services in the state and caused significant inconvenience to the public.


New Indian Express
5 days ago
- New Indian Express
Delayed relief to kin of martyrs: 31 cases filed
BENGALURU: Since many dependents of martyrs and ex-servicemen are still waiting for government benefits even after decades, the two Upa Lokayuktas on Tuesday filed 31 suo motu complaints—one for each district. This aims to push the state to deliver the promised support. A first-of-its-kind massive joint action was taken by the Upa Lokayuktas- Justice K N Phaneendra and Justice B Veerappa ahead of the 79th Independence Day celebrations. Speaking to TNIE, Justice Phaneendra, Upa Lokayukta-1, in charge of 15 districts, said the move aims to support families of those who sacrificed their lives for the nation, after receiving multiple complaints about martyrs' and ex-servicemen's families struggling to get their due benefits. Justice Veerappa, Upa Lokayukta-2, in charge of 16 districts, said, 'We are safe because of the soldiers who are shedding blood on the border. Despite laws being brought to facilitate certain benefits to them, neither have they been given land nor a site, which amounts to maladministration under the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, he said. The Upa Lokayuktas have fixed the responsibility to the Assistant Commissioners of all districts to ensure that all the reports are submitted by September 24. Further, the copies of the suomoto complaints have been marked to the Deputy Commissioners, and also to the Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue Department. Upa Lokayuktas cited cases like Geetha B C, from Mandya, who hasn't received benefits 20 years after her husband's death, and N K Lalithambika from Tumakuru, who's been fighting for land promised to her 50 years ago. Details sought from each tahsildar How many ex-servicemen are there in each taluk How many were martyred while in service How many of them have been provided statutory relief, benefits How many of them were allotted land or site under Karnataka Land Grant Rules, 1969 How many applications have been received, approved, pending If no benefits are given, reasons must be given along with the explanation by the tahsildars