MANJU DEVI Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) HUSBAND of the petitioners was enrolled as Nayak in the Indian Army on 15-11-1983. Unfortunately, husband of the petitioner died on 9-11-2000 while he was on duty at 3 EME Center, Bhopal. Though cause of death has been reported to be cardiac failure due to coronary artery occlusion and its complications, however, special family pension has been denied to the petitioner on the ground that death was not attributable to Army Services. Claim of the petitioner was rejected by the authorities vide order dated 8-8-2001. However, the petitioner preferred an appeal on 1-1-2002 itself within the limitation as informed by the authorities. Having failed to get any response from the authorities, the present writ petition has been filed on 11-12-2002 challening the order of rejection of claim of special family pension.

(2.) A hyper technical objection has been taken on behalf of the respondents that during pendency of the appeal, present writ petition could not have been filed by the petitioner apart from making reliance on the medical report. The reply was filed in July, 2004. There is no explanation, whatsoever, as to why the appeal could not be decided by the competent authority for more than two years. As per submission of the counsel for the petitioner, appeal has yet not been decided by the concerned authority. There appears to be total callous insensitive approach of the authorities in such matters when on one side technical objections are taken and on the other side, the poor widow is deprived of her legal dues for want of decision of appeal for more than five years.