The Kerala High Court has expressed strong disapproval towards the State government’s decision to deny a woman her father’s Freedom Fighters Pension, citing patriarchal reasons. The court criticized the government’s stance, which was based on the presumption that the woman’s two brothers would take care of her.
Justice Devan Ramachandran, presiding over the case, remarked,
“I am afraid that the afore submissions of the learned Government Pleader – which are also reflected in Ext.P5 – smack archaic patriarchal notions. Merely because the petitioner has two brothers, an automatic assumption drawn that she would be taken care of by them for her life, can only be seen to be one solely on account of the afore notions and nothing else.”
The court’s statement underscores its concern over the outdated and gender-biased views that influenced the government’s decision.
The case in question was brought forward by Neena, the daughter of the late T Achuthan, a freedom fighter. She had contested the State government’s order that rejected her plea for the Freedom Fighter’s Pension. The government’s refusal was grounded in the belief that her two “well-to-do” brothers would provide for her.
In light of the court’s observations, it directed the State to revisit and reconsider her claim, emphasizing the need to move away from such regressive and patriarchal notions when making decisions that impact the rights and entitlements of women.