Para-military martyrs’ families may soon get their just dues: Govt

The long-drawn demand for giving shaheed/martyr status to the Central Para-Military Forces (CPMF) personnel killed in action may not materialise as Centre does not want to indulge in whole new controversy by defining it for personnel. The <g data-gr-id="111">government</g> however, is actively considering pecuniary benefits for the family of deceased CPMF personnel at par with those from the Army. 

A senior official in the government told Millennium Post that shaheed/martyr is not defined anywhere and not even for Army personnel. In such scenario, Centre cannot consider the demand of martyr status for paramilitary personnel.

The Delhi High Court had sought the response of the Centre, Department of Personnel and Training and Ministry of Defence on a petition filed by advocate Abhishek Choudhary in the matter. Advocate Choudhary in his petition said, “This is sheer injustice that these paramilitary forces dying for the country are not given proper recognition and monetary support as being given to the Army personnel. There should be no discrimination. All those sacrificing their lives for the nation should be treated equally.” 

“Central government is of the opinion that if it is considered for Paramilitary forces tomorrow it may be possible that police could also ask for the same honour which will lead us to whole new ruckus,” said a senior official. However, the official confirmed that there are some monetary benefits for the paramilitary personnel those are under consideration and it is possible that Centre could accept the proposal for financial benefits at par with Army personnel. The CPMF personnel who die in the line of duty do not get the same honour which their counterparts in the Indian Army, Navy and the Air Force get. The compensation for <g data-gr-id="34">their</g> next of kin (NOK) in case of Army is Rs 80 lakh, whereas the amount for Central police organisations personnel is just Rs 15 lakh.

The Additional Solicitor General, when contacted, said that there was no question of discrimination between Army personnel and paramilitary forces personnel as the Centre does not provide for martyr status for either. This honour is given by the state to which the Army personnel may belong to.

A senior BSF official said, “We sometimes get the response from our personnel’s families questioning this discrimination between forces. Ultimately, a death is a death. Our soldiers should also get the same as their Army counterparts.

When contacted for clarification on the matter, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said,” Centre has taken up the issue, however, it is a very sensitive and big matter and I am not in a position to respond as of now.”