Monday, October 19, 2020

Officers who delayed pension of 99-yr-old must feel ashamed: HC

Officers who delayed pension of 99-yr-old must feel ashamed: HC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:18.10.2020

Censuring government authorities for making a 99-year-old freedom fighter run from pillar to post, and then finally to approach the court to get freedom fighter’s pension, the Madras high court has observed that officers concerned must feel ashamed of their act.

“This is a case where, a freedom fighter, at the age of 99, has approached this court, still with the fond hope that, before his last breath, he will get the recognition that he was a freedom fighter,” Justice R Suresh Kumar said.

The issue pertains to a plea moved by S Gafoor, a resident of Vyasarpadi, seeking direction to the central and the state governments to grant him freedom fighter’s pension from 1997 under Central Swatantra Sainik Samman Scheme.

Though belatedly, in 1997, the petitioner made a request to the authorities for the pension, it seems that in 1997 itself, the Centre directed the state authorities to inquire into the matter and forward their recommendation with necessary documents, the court said.

Thereafter, the petitioner appeared before the district collector concerned and completed all the procedures in 2015.

But still the matter rests with state authorities, especially the collector. It seems that no final decision has been taken to make a recommendation to the Centre to grant the pension, the court said.

“If these factors are true, this court feels that it is a case, where the authorities concerned to be ashamed of their inaction, as a freedom fighter, at the age of 99, has approached this court to get recognition and pension,” the judge said.

Noting that the matter must be decided as soon as possible considering the age of the petitioner, the court directed the state authorities to file a status report by November 6.

The issue pertains to a plea moved by S Gafoor seeking direction to grant him freedom fighter’s pension from 1997 under Central Swatantra Sainik Samman Scheme

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