For 16 yrs, AMC and state government failed to pay 11 firefighters who were awarded gallantry medals during the 2002 Gujarat riots
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Jayesh Khadia along with five firemen Vasant More, Ditabhai Rathod, Hitesh Patel, Ramuji Vaghela and Jagdish Ninama are still with the force
When it comes to safety and security of the people, the state is at the forefront, invoking nationalism and going to great lengths to hero-worship the personnel. However, when it comes to rewarding them for their brave deeds, it is found to be wanting.
With the state government and the civic body dilly-dallying for 16 years in payment of allowance to firefighters, it took Gujarat High Court to directAhmedabad Municipal Corporation to pay arrears to the 11 Fire Service Medal winners.
Taking a dim view of the ‘blame game’ between AMC and state government, both ruled by the BJP, the High Court ordered the civic body to pay arrears accrued over 16 years to 11 firefighters.
"The only thing politicians do is make speeches praising our good work. And then, it's over," rued Anwar Malik, a retired driver-cum-pump operator of Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services (AFES) who dragged the AMC to court after it refused to pay the meagre allowance of the Gallantry Medal bestowed upon him and 10 others by the President of India.
For 16 years, the 11 firefighters, five of whom have retired, have been waiting with their meagre emoluments in the hope that they would be paid the arrears. Finally, on March 25, the High Court brought relief to them when it decreed that the AMC must pay the brave men their dues and continue paying them their allowance. Also, in the event of their deaths, their wives must continue to get the monthly allowance accompanying the medal.
Speaking on the matter, advocate M M Tirmizi said, "I will not name any political party but politicians make promises that are eventually broken. It is even more heartbreaking in this case because real-life heroes had to fight for 16 years for what was rightfully theirs. Ultimately, the HC had to come to their rescue."
Of the 11 men, CFO Bipin Jadeja, fireman Gulamnabi Boraidya and drivers Kirit Patel, Premnarayan Dube, Anwar Malik have already retired from service. DeputyChief Fire Officer Jayesh Khadia along with five firemen Vasant More, Ditabhai Rathod, Hitesh Patel, Ramuji Vaghela and Jagdish Ninama are still with the force.
Tired of fighting for the allowance, Anwar Malik filed a writ in Gujarat High Court on October 5, 2017. On March 25, the HC ruled in their favour.
The main argument of the AMC for not paying the dues was that the state government had not paid the civic body the amount that was to be passed on to the medal awardees. Tirmizi argued that the AMC itself had passed a resolution to pay the allowance to the men.
Disapproving of the AMC, the HC ordered the civic body to hold up its own resolution and first pay the applicants their dues within eight weeks and then put up the bill to the state government. The court also ordered the state government through the Secretary of the Urban Development Department (UDD) to reimburse the amount to the AMC within eight weeks of the bill being put up.
Senior officer's struggle sets precedent
The HC order also cites a precedent the case of 74-year-old Dadubha Gadhvi, retired chief fire officer (CFO) who was awarded the President's Fire Service Medal for Gallantry in 1976. On December 10, 2018, the High Court ordered the AMC to pay 8 years of unpaid allowances as arrears accompanying the medal to Gadhvi, and regularly pay him.
Mirror had on December 27, 2018, reported about Dadubha's victory.
Amount to be paid
As per information available on Union Home Ministry website, the monetary allowance for the Fire Service Medal for Gallantry, which was Rs 60 before 2002, was revised to Rs 2,000 as per a notification dated March 23, 2015. The awardees say they have not seen a single rupee of this money in the past 16 years.
Medal citation
Eleven firefighters pulled out 16 people trapped inside Moti Manor Hotel nearShahibaug underpass during the 2002 Gujarat riots. The hotel was engulfed in flames when the heroes from Shahpur Fire Station rescued them all.
The then CFO Bipin Jadeja said, "There were people from both communities stuck inside the hotel. We drove over footpaths and debris to get there as rioters did not let even emergency vehicles through." The team then dropped the rescued people safely to their homes to protect them from the violence.
With the state government and the civic body dilly-dallying for 16 years in payment of allowance to firefighters, it took Gujarat High Court to direct
Taking a dim view of the ‘blame game’ between AMC and state government, both ruled by the BJP, the High Court ordered the civic body to pay arrears accrued over 16 years to 11 firefighters.
The arrears were pertaining to an allowance declared for the firefighters who were awarded the Fire Service Medal of Gallantry for bravery during the 2002 Gujarat riots.
"The only thing politicians do is make speeches praising our good work. And then, it's over," rued Anwar Malik, a retired driver-cum-pump operator of Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services (AFES) who dragged the AMC to court after it refused to pay the meagre allowance of the Gallantry Medal bestowed upon him and 10 others by the President of India.
For 16 years, the 11 firefighters, five of whom have retired, have been waiting with their meagre emoluments in the hope that they would be paid the arrears. Finally, on March 25, the High Court brought relief to them when it decreed that the AMC must pay the brave men their dues and continue paying them their allowance. Also, in the event of their deaths, their wives must continue to get the monthly allowance accompanying the medal.
Speaking on the matter, advocate M M Tirmizi said, "I will not name any political party but politicians make promises that are eventually broken. It is even more heartbreaking in this case because real-life heroes had to fight for 16 years for what was rightfully theirs. Ultimately, the HC had to come to their rescue."
Of the 11 men, CFO Bipin Jadeja, fireman Gulamnabi Boraidya and drivers Kirit Patel, Premnarayan Dube, Anwar Malik have already retired from service. Deputy
Tired of fighting for the allowance, Anwar Malik filed a writ in Gujarat High Court on October 5, 2017. On March 25, the HC ruled in their favour.
The main argument of the AMC for not paying the dues was that the state government had not paid the civic body the amount that was to be passed on to the medal awardees. Tirmizi argued that the AMC itself had passed a resolution to pay the allowance to the men.
Disapproving of the AMC, the HC ordered the civic body to hold up its own resolution and first pay the applicants their dues within eight weeks and then put up the bill to the state government. The court also ordered the state government through the Secretary of the Urban Development Department (UDD) to reimburse the amount to the AMC within eight weeks of the bill being put up.
Senior officer's struggle sets precedent
The HC order also cites a precedent the case of 74-year-old Dadubha Gadhvi, retired chief fire officer (CFO) who was awarded the President's Fire Service Medal for Gallantry in 1976. On December 10, 2018, the High Court ordered the AMC to pay 8 years of unpaid allowances as arrears accompanying the medal to Gadhvi, and regularly pay him.
Mirror had on December 27, 2018, reported about Dadubha's victory.
The firefighters had saved 16 people trapped inside Moti Manor Hotel near Shahibaug
Amount to be paid
As per information available on Union Home Ministry website, the monetary allowance for the Fire Service Medal for Gallantry, which was Rs 60 before 2002, was revised to Rs 2,000 as per a notification dated March 23, 2015. The awardees say they have not seen a single rupee of this money in the past 16 years.
Medal citation
Eleven firefighters pulled out 16 people trapped inside Moti Manor Hotel near
The then CFO Bipin Jadeja said, "There were people from both communities stuck inside the hotel. We drove over footpaths and debris to get there as rioters did not let even emergency vehicles through." The team then dropped the rescued people safely to their homes to protect them from the violence.
There were people from both communities stuck inside the hotel. We drove over footpaths and debris to get there as rioters did not let even emergency vehicles through
The only thing that the politicians do is to make speeches praising our good work. But after that, everything is over. There is no action that is taken after that
Recent Messages ()
Please rate before posting your Review
SIGN IN WITH
Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive. Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.