Freedom fighters pension scheme not available to married daughter, upholds Delhi High Court
New Delhi: Pension under Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojna is available to a freedom fighter, his widow or unmarried daughters, the Delhi High Court has held while rejecting a plea for extending it to his widowed daughter.
Justice Vibhu Bakhru was informed by the Centre that the scheme is not available to married daughter of a freedom fighter.
"The scheme also specifies that only one person would be entitled to the pension. In view of the above, the petitioner is not entitled to pension under the SSS Yojna and the relief as sought for cannot be granted," the judge said.
The High Court was hearing a plea filed by Santosh Gulia seeking pension on the ground that she is the widowed daughter of the freedom fighter Late Shri Lal Chand.
The petitioner's father was recognised as a freedom fighter and was accorded the pension under the scheme. He expired in 2004 and the pension was given to Gulia's mother who also expired last year.
The petitioner claimed that the said pension be disbursed to her.
The government had last year approved the continuation of the scheme till 2020, beyond the 12th Five Year Plan which had ended on March 31, 2017.
The approval provides for a monthly pension to freedom fighters as a token of respect for their contribution in the national freedom struggle.
On their demise, it is provided to their eligible dependents like spouses and thereafter, unmarried and unemployed daughters and dependent parents as per the prescribed eligibility norms and process.
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Porsche car crash case exposed systemic corruption: Pune police commissioner
Pune (PTI): The Porsche car crash case exposed "systemic corruption," but the Pune Police have successfully uncovered the nexus behind the replacement of the accused juvenile's blood samples with those of his mother, Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said on Wednesday.
The case made national headlines after the high-end car allegedly driven by the 17-year-old boy in an inebriated state mowed down motorcycle-borne IT professionals Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Costa in the Kalyani Nagar area on May 19 last year.
"Last year’s Porsche car crash case sparked widespread discussions about Pune’s deteriorating social culture, alleged police corruption, and several other issues. Amid all the criticism, one positive aspect stood out: the case exposed systemic corruption.
"It also demonstrated how the police, working within the same system, managed to uncover the entire nexus behind the replacement of the juvenile’s blood samples with those of his mother," Kumar said while addressing Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, an initiative aimed at raising awareness against drug addiction, organised at Modern College.
He added that the juvenile has been released since he was a minor.
"However, his mother has remained in jail for over a year, and his father continues to be behind bars. Doctors from Sassoon Hospital and others involved are also still in jail," Kumar said, adding that one mistake by a child, and an attempt by his parents to cover it up, destroyed an entire family.
He said the police will follow up on this case until every guilty person is punished.
Kumar also appealed to students to stay away from intoxicating substances and drugs.
"You are not only endangering your own life but also putting your entire family at risk," he said, urging the youth not to fall prey to harmful addictions.
"Instead, stand strong and act as a force to ensure that drug abuse is curbed in your surroundings. We assure you of full police support," he added.
He further stated that if youth from all colleges unite and decide to end this menace, "the day is not far when not even one gram of drug will be sold in the city".
The investigation into the car crash had revealed that the juvenile's blood samples were replaced with those of his mother.
The roles of Dr Ajay Taware, head of the forensic department, Medical Officer Shreehari Halnor, and a hospital staffer came under scrutiny.
While the mother is currently out on bail, the juvenile’s father, Sassoon Hospital doctors Taware and Halnor, staffer Atul Ghatkamble, two middlemen, Ashpak Makandar and Amar Gaikwad, and others remain in jail for the alleged blood sample swap.
