NARAYAN CHANDRA MAITI Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner has filed the instant writ petition for grant of freedom fighters pension under Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme, 1980.

(2.) During 25th Anniversary of Independence, the Central Government to honour the Freedom Fighters who took part in the Freedom Movement of India introduced a Scheme being Freedom Fighters' Pension Scheme, 1972 for grant of pension to the living Freedom Fighters and their family members. As per the scheme, the minimum quantum of pension sanctioned to a freedom fighter be Rs.200.00 per month and in case of families it will vary from Rs.100.00 to Rs.200.00 in accordance with the size and number of eligible dependants in the family and the pension was admissible only to those who were in need of financial assistance on account of their meagre annual gross income upto the ceiling of Rs.5,000.00.

(3.) Subsequently, to extend the benefit of pension to all freedom fighters as a token of Samman, the Government of India introduced a Scheme on 15/8/1981 namely Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme, 1980 with effect from 1/8/1980 in place of Freedom Fighter's Pension Scheme, 1972.