New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday was informed by the central government that it has been considering to give "martyr" status to paramilitary personnel who die in the line of duty. A division bench of Justice S. Ravindra Bhat and Justice Deepa Sharma hearing the submission of government's counsel sought an affidavit in this regard by November 23.

The court was hearing a PIL seeking to directions to issue the honorific of "martyr" to paramilitary or police personnel, as 31,895 paramilitary personnel have laid down their lives in the last 53 years in the line of duty but the honour of being called a "martyr" still eludes the personnel of paramilitary and police forces.