SHAKUNTALA DEVI Vs. THE STATE OF JHARKHAND

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard counsel for the parties.

(2.) The present controversy is a result of fight between two ladies claiming themselves to be the first legally wedded wife of the deceased employee, Late Bindeshwari Singh. At the instance of the respondent No. 5, Bimla Devi @ Shakuntala Devi in the writ petition being W.P.S. No. 3783 of 2012 the learned Single Judge of this Court vide judgment dated 18.9.2012 had the pleasure to direct the respondent No. 2 - Accountant General to pass a suitable order after hearing the petitioner as also the alleged second wife who also had the same name Shakuntala Devi. On the request of office of Accountant General, the District Education Officer, Koderma gave notice to the said petitioner, Bimla Devi @ Sakuntala Devi and the alleged second wife, Shakuntala Devi, who is writ petitioner in the present writ petition and thereafter came to the conclusion that Bimla Devi, writ petitioner in W.P.S. No. 3783 of 2012 was the first wife and the present petitioner, Shakuntala Devi was the second wife whose name was shown as Baijanti Kumari in the records of the Ram Narayan High School, Padma, Hazaribag, as per the certificate granted by the Principal of the said school. The said determination was communicated to the office of Accountant General through letter No. 74 dated 28.1.2014.

(3.) The respondent No. 6 who is the District Education Officer, Koderma has filed a counter affidavit stating that after receiving memo No. 1069 dated 20.12.2013 issued by the office of Accountant General notices were issued to both the wives of the deceased employee to produce documents in support of their claim for family pension. Both wives of the deceased employee produced documents in support of their claims based upon which the letter dated 28.1.2014 has been issued to the Office of Accountant General. It is the contention of the respondent No. 6 that on the said report the Accountant General has come to the conclusion that Bimla Devi @ Sakuntala Devi is the first wife of the deceased employee.