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1996 Supreme(SC) 2283
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
K. Ramaswamy and G.B. Pattanaik, JJ.
Union of India - Appellant
Versus
Mohan Singh and others - Respondents
Civil Appeal No. 12314 of 1996 [Arising out of SLP (C) No. 11790 of 1996]
Decided On : 09-09-1996
For the Appellant :Mr. M.N. Goswamy, Senior Advocate with Mr. Hemant Sharma and Mr. P. Parmeswaran, Advocates
For the Respondents:Mr. P. Jha, Mr. Sanjeev Walia, Mr. A.K. Chopra, Mr. Anil Mittal and Mr. Manoj Swarup, Advocates
The sufficiency of proof for claiming pension under the Freedom Fighters' Pension Scheme is determined by the Government, and it is not the role of the Court to scrutinize the documents and pronounce upon their genuineness.
Headnote:
Freedom Fighters' Pension Scheme - Evidence - Sufficiency of Proof
Fact of the Case:
The respondent claimed to be a freedom fighter and applied for pension under the Freedom Fighters' Pension Scheme. The government found the evidence insufficient and denied the pension. The respondent challenged this decision in a writ petition, which was allowed by the High Court.
Finding of the Court:
The Court found that the High Court had erred in declaring the respondents as freedom fighters based on the evidence produced, as it was the function of the Government to scrutinize the documents and pronounce upon their genuineness.
Issues: The sufficiency of proof for claiming pension under the Freedom Fighters' Pension Scheme.
Ratio Decidendi: The Court emphasized that it is the function of the Government to scrutinize the documents and determine their genuineness for claiming pension under the Freedom Fighters' Pension Scheme.
Final Decision: The appeal was allowed, the order of the High Court was set aside, and the writ petition was dismissed without costs.
ORDER :
K. Ramaswamy, J.
1. Leave granted.
2. We have heard learned counsel on both sides.
3. This appeal by special leave arises from the judgment and order dated June 1, 1995 made by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in Civil Writ Petition No. 3790 of 1994. The first respondent claiming to be a freedom fighter, made an application on August 1, 1972 for pension under the Freedom Fighters' Pension Scheme framed by the Government of India. The primary evidence in support of his undergoing imprisonment for six months has been based on a Certificate of an MLA and co-prisoner. That certificate was considered by the appellant Government, as per the directions of the High Court in an earlier writ petition, and it is found that the respondent was not a freedom fighter and, therefore, not entitled to the pension under the Freedom Fighters' Pension Scheme. The respondents again challenged the decision in the present writ petition. The High Court in the impugned order has held that in view of the evidence produced by the respondents, they must be declared freedom fighters. Accordingly, the writ petition has been allowed. Hence, this appeal by special leave.
4. This Court in Mukund Lal Bhandari v. Union of India, (1993) Supp. 3 SCC 2 (para 6) had held, as regards the sufficiency of the proof, that the Scheme itself mentions the documents which are required to be produced before the Government. It is not possible for this Court to scrutinise the documents which according to the petitioners they had produced in support of their claim, and pronounce upon their genuineness. It is the function of the Government to do so. We would, therefore, direct accordingly.
5. It is seen that the High Court had directed the Government, in the earlier writ petition, and in compliance thereof the Government of India had considered the documents relied upon by the respondents and come to the conclusion, as a fact, that these documents are not sufficient to conclude that the respondents had suffered imprisonment. The High Court found it, on appreciation of evidence, to be sufficient, which the High Court cannot embark upon.
6. The appeal is accordingly allowed and the order of the High Court stands set aside. The writ petition stands dismissed but under the circumstances without costs.
Appeal allowed.
