Judgment :-

A.K. Sikri, J.

1. Leave granted.

2. The three respondents herein were the original petitioners who had filed three separate Writ Petitions in their individual capacities. In these Writ Petitions, the petitioners claimed that they took part in the freedom movement and were, therefore, entitled to the benefits which the Government has announced with the proclamation of the “Freedom Fighters Pension Scheme”. Having regard to the fact that all the claims were on similar set of facts, the Bench High Court of Judicature at Bombay consolidated those three petitions and after hearing, has allowed all by single judgment dated 10.2.2012 with the following directions:

“(i) The impugned orders passed by the State Government, thereby rejecting claims of the petitioners for freedom fighter’s pension, are quashed and set aside. It is held that the petitioners are entitled to freedom fighter’s pension, under the Scheme framed by the State of Maharashtra, from the date of their first application.

(ii) The respondent-State and its concerned authorities are directed to pay freedom fighter’s pension to the petitioners, from the date of their first application. They shall start payment of said p