In a disclosure before the Bombay High Court, lawyers for the 74-year-old widow said government officials in Khed had demanded the money for measuring land allotted to her.

After making her wait for land allotment for more than 40 years, the Maharashtra Government has now demanded ‘nazrana’ – money for measuring the piece of land which is to be allotted to her.

In a disclosure before the Bombay High Court recently, her lawyers Avinash Gokhale and Mayuresh Modgi said that the government officials in Khed have demanded money from her. The government pleader said she was unaware of any such demand, and sought time to respond to the court.

The matter will now be heard next on October 29.

Indira Jadhav (74), is currently undergoing treatment for cancer near Pune. She had moved the Bombay High Court after the government had failed to allot her land for agricultural and residential purpose, for over four decades. According to the existent government provisions, she had applied for land after the demise of her husband, sepoy Babaji Jadhav.

He was martyred in the 1965 Indo-Pak war. His valour had earned her praise letters from the then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and many senior army officials.

Her case had prompted the Bombay High Court to slap penalties on erring officials of the State Government. It had also directed the government to grant benefits to the other war widows in the State.

The court had stipulated a deadline for the officials to issue land to her. While the residential land was to be allotted free of cost, the agricultural land was to be given as per the ready reckoner rates of 1998-99. The State Government was directed to deduct the price money from the penalty slapped on the officials, which meant that Ms. Jadhav wouldn’t have to pay a penny.

But the government had recently sent her a letter seeking fees of Rs. 12,000 for measuring the piece of land. After she filed a civil application seeking relief, the government had backtracked, saying it had waived off the fees.

Now, officials have demanded ‘nazrana’ or gift for measuring the land, Ms. Jadhav has claimed.