Judgment

SAWANT, J.:- This case is a glaring example of gross negligence and callousness on the part of the authorities and the consequent indescribable mental torment and physical and financial hardship caused to the widow and the two minor children of an Army Officer. The apathy and the extremely casual attitude adopted by the concerned officers travelled even to the proceedings in this Court and are writ large on the affidavit in reply which they have filed in response to the petition.

The petitioners husband, Mukhbain Singh was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Indian Army on or about 13-10-1963 according to the petitioner and on 1-6-1968 according to the respondent-authorities, and was promoted to the rank of Major on 24-5-1978. On promotion, he was posted at Kargil on 10-6-1978. According to the petitioner, he complained of chest pain on 12-6-1978 and was removed to Leh on 16-6-1978. The diagnosis made was of Ischaemic heart disease. The petitioner who was married to Mukhbain Singh in 1971 was living in Meerut at the relevant time with her two children - a daughter born in 1972 and a son born in 1975. On receiving information of the illness of her husband, she rushed with her