UNDER SECRETARY Vs. CHERUKURI NAGABHUSHANAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Mr. Gadi Praveen Kumar, learned Deputy Solicitor General of India, for the appellant. Mr. Muralidhar Reddy Katram, learned Government Pleader for Revenue for the respondents No.3 and 4.

(2.) This intra court appeal is filed against the order dtd. 25/8/2014 passed in W.P.No.22257 of 2007 by which the proceeding dtd. 27/8/2007, rejecting the claim of the respondent No.1 for grant of freedom fighter pension, has been quashed. In addition, the learned Single Judge has directed the appellant to grant the freedom fighter pension in favour of the respondent No.2, namely the widow of the respondent No.1, within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of the said order.

(3.) Facts giving rise to filing of this appeal briefly stated are that the deceased respondent No.1 (hereinafter referred to as 'the freedom fighter') filed an application on 13/11/1985 seeking grant of freedom fighter pension under the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme, 1980 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Scheme'). The aforesaid application was rejected by an order dtd. 29/6/1994 by the Ministry of Home Affairs, inter alia, on the ground that the same was filed after the prescribed date. The freedom fighter's application was placed before the Hyderabad Special Screening Committee on 27/7/1997. The State Government, vide report dtd. 24/9/2002, held that the freedom fighter is not entitled for pension under the Scheme. On the basis of the report forwarded by the State Government, the claim of the freedom fighter was rejected.