SC slaps Rs 50k cost on Centre for appeal against soldier’s pension to widow
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Tuesday imposed a cost of Rs 50,000 on the Centre for filing an appeal against an order of the Armed Forces Tribunal, which granted a liberalised pension to the widow of a soldier who died during a counter-terrorism patrol in Jammu and Kashmir.
A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih said the widow should not have been dragged to court.
"In our view, in a case like this, the respondent ought not to have been dragged to this court, and the decision making authority of the appellants ought to have been sympathetic to the widow of a deceased soldier who died in harness. Therefore, we propose to impose costs quantified as Rs 50,000, which will be payable to the respondent," the bench held.
The Centre has been directed to pay the costs to the widow within two months starting Tuesday.
The apex court was hearing a plea filed by the Centre challenging the tribunal's order, which directed that Liberalised Family Pension (LFP) along with arrears be paid to the widow from January 2013.
The case pertains to Naik Inderjeet Singh, who suffered a cardiac arrest while on patrol in extreme weather conditions in January 2013. His death was initially classified as a "battle casualty" but later classified as a "physical casualty" attributable to military service.
His widow was granted all terminal benefits, including a special family pension but as she was denied the LFP, she moved a plea before the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT).
The AFT allowed her application and directed the payment of LFP and exgratia lumpsum amount payable in case of battle casualties dying in harness. The Centre and the Army subsequently moved in appeal against the AFT’s decision before the top court.
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Mysuru ADC orders lake survey, eviction of encroachments
Mysuru: Additional Deputy Commissioner P. Shivaraju has directed officials to conduct a comprehensive survey of all lakes in the district and clear illegal encroachments within a week, Deccan Herald reported.
Chairing a meeting of the District Level Lake Protection Force on Thursday, he instructed the Survey Department and Tahsildars to prioritise documentation and boundary identification of all water bodies.
He emphasised that all lakes must be restored and maintained in good condition.
Shivaraju also directed officials from the Environment Department to visit all lakes, monitor water quality, and ensure sanitation. “Strict action must be taken to prevent the flow of industrial waste and untreated sewage into urban lakes,” he said.
He further instructed Tahsildars to begin eviction of encroachments immediately after the survey is completed.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Director of Land Records (DDLR), Tahsildars, and officials from the Environment and Water Resources departments.
