An advocate has filed a Public Interest Litigation with the Delhi High Court, urging it to direct the central government to declare police and paramilitary personnel as "martyrs" if they died in the line of duty.On Wednesday advocate Abhishek Choudhary filed the PIL seeking directions that the government issue the honourific of "martyr" or "shaheed" to paramilitary or police personnel who died in the line of duty. The public interest litigation (PIL) was filed before a division bench headed by Chief Justice G. Rohini, who posted the matter for July 29 for further hearing.Stating that 31,895 paramilitary personnel had been killed in the last 53 years when on duty, the PIL said the honour of being called a "martyr" or "shaheed" still eluded the troopers and officers of paramilitary and police forces in the country.The PIL said that "the personnel of the three armed forces of the country, namely army, navy and air force, are called 'martyr' or 'shaheed' when they are killed during duty, but unfortunately the men/women of police and paramilitary forces who are killed in anti-Maoist operations, rendering internal security duties and guarding our borders in extreme conditions are not given the stature of a 'martyr'.""In many places, like along the Pakistan border, paramilitary personnel work along with army men and in Maoist-affected states, they work with air force officials. But in case of death in action, the Central Armed Police Personnel (CAPFs) are not accorded 'martyr' or 'shaheed' status," the plea said.Choudhary said honouring them will not only act as a morale booster but also enhance their self-respect.IANS