SAROJ KUNDRA Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Dr. Sushil Kundra, who was a practising Medical Officer at Khanna, fell a prey to the bullets of terrorists. He is survived by Smt. Saroj Kundra, the present petitioner, and two daughters, Archana and Vaishali, in their teens. FIR No. 32 dated 14.3.1993 was lodged with the Police Station, City, Khanna, copy of which is Annexure P-1 to the writ petition.

(2.) The Punjab Government issues identity cards to the terrorist affected families. Such a card was also issued to Smt. Saroj Kundra and her two daughters, on the instructions of respondent No. 3, on 12.5.1993. Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, sent a letter of condolence to the bereaved family and the petitioner was informed that the Government provides certain facilities to the victims of the terrorists. The facilities are :-

(3.) The Government of Punjab, Department of Relief and Resettlement had also issued circular dated 26.9.1989 addressed to all the Deputy Commissioners in the State, S.D.Os. (C) and the District Social Welfare Officers asking them for early disbursement of financial assistance (widow pension) to the widows of persons killed in terrorist violence. Government had also framed certain rules in which the criteria for the grant of pension had been made. However, the petitioner's request for grant of pension was not acceded to. Left with no alternative, the petitioner has filed the present writ petition seeking direction to the respondents to grant subsistence allowance at the rate of Rs. 1500/- per month in view of the policy of the Government.