BADAMO DEVI Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner, Smt. Badamo Devi claims herself to be the wife of a freedom fighter, late Shri Sobha Ram. She has disclosed her age at the time fo filing of the petition on 6.7.2008 as 89 years. It is averred that late Shri Sobha Ram, who was a Praja Mandal activist, had participated in the historic Suket Movement which ultimately resulted in merger of the princely State of Suket with the Union of India after the country attained independence in the year 1947. On the strength of her status as wife of a freedom fighter, she has already been granted pension by respondent No. 2, the State of Himachal Pradesh.

(2.) ADMITTEDLY, late Shri Sobha Ram was having two wives, Whether reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgment? No. i.e the petitioner, Smt. Badamo Devi and one Smt. Gurdei. This aspect of the matter is also borne out of the sanction letter dated 27.11.2007 (Annexure P-6), vide which pension to both the wives of the deceased freedom fighter has been granted by the State Government.

(3.) IN reply, on behalf of respondent No. 1, mainly the following stand has been taken vide para 1(v):