High Court Of Delhi
Swatanter Kumar And G. S. Sistani
SAMAJ KAUR - Appellant
Versus
UNION OF INDIA - Respondents
WP (C) 6988 Of 2005
Decided On : 08/31/2006
[Para17]
G. S. SISTANI, J.
( 1 ) IN this petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of india, the petitioner has prayed that this Hon'ble Court be graciously pleased to
(a) Issue a writ in the nature of certiorari by quashing the order dated 29. 12. 1998; (b) Issue a writ in the nature of mandamus directing the respondent to release special family pension in favour of the petitioner w. e. f. the date of death of her late husband along with the arrears and pay 9% interest thereupon.
( 2 ) BRIEF facts of the case are that the husband of the petitioner was enrolled in the Indian Army on 8. 1. 1966 and after rendering service of around 15 years and 4 months, he retired from the Army on 7. 5. 1981 on completion of the terms of engagement. Thereafter on 1. 5. 1984 he was re-enrolled in the Army in Defence security Corps. As per Army procedure, husband of the petitioner was again examined by the medical authorities before his re-enrolment in the Army and was found to be medically and physically fit in all respects. The duty of the husband of the petitioner was of such a nature which involved long and continuous hours of duty, as a result of which he started having health problems for which he was admitted and treated as a case of hypertension and was placed in low medical category. On 8. 6. 1998, while he was on duty, he suffered from a heart attack and was admitted in military hospital. On 14. 6. 1998 while he was at the military hospital, he died. That since husband of the petitioner died while performing his duty and attributable to military service, the petitioner is entitled for grant of special family pension, as per Regulation 213 of Pension Regulations for the Army, 1961 part. The claim for special family pension in respect of the petitioner was submitted duly sanctioned to the Chief Controller of Defence Accounts (Pension), allahabad (hereinafter referred to as 'ccda (P)'), vide letter dated 25. 9. 1998. But the case of the petitioner for special family pension was rejected by CCDA (P) in an arbitrary and illegal manner and only ordinary family pension was granted to her vide letter dated 29. 12. 1998. The petitioner preferred an appeal against the decision of the CCDA (P) on 5. 5. 1999 but of no avail. Petitioner issued a notice dated 27. 1. 2005 through her advocate to the respondents. The respondents vide their letter dated 5. 5. 2005 have again intimated to the petitioner that her claim of special family pension was rejected by the CCDA (P ). Aggrieved by the action of the respondents, petitioner ultimately filed the present petition. -.
( 3 ) IT is submitted by the learned Counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner is entitled to the special family pension in terms of Regulation. 213 of Pension regulation forthe Army 1961 Part. The late husband of petitioner was suffering from Primary Hypertension and Cervical Spondylisis. It is further submitted that the death of late husband of the petitioner was due to Ischaemic Heart disease (unstable Angina ). The diseases from which petitioner's husband was suffering are classified diseases and are attributable to military service as per Pension Regulation and Guide to Medical Officer (Military Pension ). It is submitted that the petitioner's husband had no disease at the time of his re-enrolment in Defence security Corps on 1 May, 1984.
( 4 ) IT is further submitted that the CCDA (P) has acted in a most arbitrary and illegal manner by rejecting the special family pension to the petitioner. As per regulation 2 of Pension Regulation for the Army 1961 Part-1, CCDA (P) is only an accounts office, which cannot over rule the findings of the Medical Officer and the post-mortem Report in addition to the opinion of the Commandant of the hospital on fatal case documents which are approved by next higher medical authority who is holding the rank of Major General.
( 5 ) THE CCDA (P) vide his cyclo-styled letter where the particular of the petitioner is filled up with pen, communicated the
Relied on : Ex.Cfn.Sugnd Ram Ranoliya v. Union of India and Ors.
SupremeToday
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.