Two days after the nation celebrated its 61st Republic Day, the Supreme Court has expressed displeasure over the manner in which freedom fighters were being treated.
The court made the observation, dismissing the appeal of the Tamil Nadu government against the order of Madras High Court which had directed the state government to pay freedom fighters pension to A K Manickam Pillai.
A bench comprising Justices Harjit Singh Bedi and T S Thakur noted, ‘This appeal is an example and a reflection of the way we treat our freedom fighters in as much that while we applaud their contributions to the fight for freedom, deny them a pension which even if granted, amounts to a pittance and while many who apply are under financial distress, all without exceptions, wear it as a badge of honour and as a certificate of recognition of their efforts in the struggle for independence.’ Pillai had applied for freedom fighters pension on December 30, 1996. His representation was rejected by the collector on August 21, 1997. He refused to give up and filed another application on May 8, 1998 and after a recommendation by two collectors and the District Level Screening Committee, the application was forwarded to the state government but it rejected the application.
The High Court, however, allowed the writ petition of Pillai on June 26, 2006 holding that the petitioner was entitled to grant of pension.
The apex court, in its judgement dated January 27, noted ‘the state government has not disputed the respondent’s claim on facts and thus we are disinclined to interfere in the matter.’
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