A fine of Rs 20000 has been imposed on the Central Government by the Delhi High Court for its languid approach in paying pension to a 96-year-old freedom fighter
The Court said that is “lackadaisical approach” demonstrates the plight of common man. The Courts said that it is very sad to know that a 96-year-old freedom fighter Uttim Lal Singh was made to wait for over 40 years and made to run from pillar to post to get his rightful pension.
The bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad felt bad about the insensitivity shown by the Government of India towards freedom fighters who had fought for the independence.
The Court ordered government to pay Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension of Uttim Lal Singh’s from the year 1980 with an interest of 6% per annum within 12 weeks.
As per the records available with court, the Bihar Government recommended the case of the petitioner and had sent the original documents to the Central Government in March 1985, however, the Central government lost the documents.
Justice Prasad further noted that the Bihar government had verified the petitioner’s name once again and sent a letter to the Central government on July 14, 2022, yet his pension was not released.
“Justice Prasad observed that that the very spirit of the Pension Scheme is being defeated by the stonewall approach of the Government of India.
The petitioner approached the Court with the application stating his birth year to be 1927.He added that he had participated in the Quit India Movement and other movements associated with the freedom struggle. He was made an accused by the British Government and declared a proclaimed officer in September 1943.
He had applied for the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension in March 1982. His name was sent by the Bihar government to the Central government in February 1983 and the recommendation was reiterated in September 2009.
In November 2017, the Central government said that Singh’s records were not available with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Bihar government was requested to share verified copies of the relevant documents.
Even after that, several communications were exchanged between the various authorities but petitioner did not get his pension. He, therefore, moved the High Court.
The Court recorded that the Government of Bihar had recommended the case of the petitioner and had sent the original documents to the Central government in March 1985. However, the Central government lost the documents.
Justice Prasad further noted that the Bihar government had verified the petitioner’s name once again and sent a letter to the Central government on July 14, 2022, yet his pension was not released.
The inaction by the Central Government looks like an insult to the freedom fighter who was declared as a proclaimed offender and probably his entire land would have been attached in the proceedings initiated by the British Government.