Cannot deny pension for freedom fighter’s kin: HC

Cannot deny pension for freedom fighter’s kin: HC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  8.8.2021 

The Madras high court has observed that those born after 1947 may not be aware as to how the struggle for Independence took place, and said, “we are enjoying the benefits of freedom, and some are misusing it.”

Justice S Vaidyanathan made the observation while directing the Union government to extend the benefit of freedom fighter pension to a 73-year-old woman whose late husband was a freedom fighter. “The object of the1980 family pension scheme is to benefit the kith and kin of freedom fighters. Mere contradictions and discrepancies may not be material to deprive pension,” the judge said.

The issue pertains to a plea moved by K Mariammal challenging an order passed by the special deputy collector, social security scheme, Coimbatore dated October 6, 2020, denying her Central Government Freedom Fighter Family Pension as a legal heir of her husband late C Kanniah. Kanniah was a member of Indian National Army (INA). The fact was certified by the Union home ministry through a certificate dated May 23,1961. As per the certificate, he was a political sufferer and as such, he is entitled to all the concessions allowed to other political sufferers.

The Union government introduced a family pension scheme, but the benefit was denied to the petitioner since her husband had not mentioned about his dependents while applying for pension.

Challenging the denial order, the petitioner has moved the court.