Today, On 3rd December, The Supreme Court has imposed a Rs. 50,000 cost on the Central Government for filing an appeal against a widow’s entitlement to her deceased soldier husband’s pension. The court criticized the appeal as unnecessary and lacking merit, emphasizing the undue stress caused to the widow. It directed the government to pay the fine and upheld the widow’s pension rights, reinforcing its stance on ensuring justice for armed forces families.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court imposed a cost of Rs 50,000 on the Centre for appealing an order from the Armed Forces Tribunal that awarded a liberalized pension to the widow of a soldier who died during a counter-terrorism operation in Jammu and Kashmir.
A bench of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih remarked that the widow should not have been drawn into the court proceedings.
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They stated,
“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 case involves the widow of a soldier who had served in the armed forces and was entitled to pension benefits after his demise. The pension was her rightful entitlement under the Armed Forces Pension Rules, which ensure financial security for the families of soldiers who dedicate their lives to serving the nation.
The Supreme Court took a stern view of the government’s actions, describing the appeal as frivolous and devoid of merit. The bench emphasized that the repeated litigation caused unnecessary stress and financial burden on the widow, who was already grappling with the loss of her husband. The court also noted that such actions undermine the morale of armed forces personnel, who expect their families to be taken care of in their absence.
In a scathing remark, the court highlighted that the government must act responsibly and not pursue baseless litigation, particularly in cases involving vulnerable sections of society, such as widows of soldiers. It imposed a cost of Rs.50,000 on the Centre as a deterrent against filing such frivolous appeals.
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However, the Centre contested the widow’s claim, arguing that the pension rules did not support her entitlement in this specific case. The widow approached the courts for relief, and both the lower courts and the appellate courts ruled in her favor, granting her the pension she rightfully deserved. Despite these rulings, the Centre escalated the matter to the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the earlier judgments.
This judgment highlights the judiciary’s role in ensuring justice and upholding the dignity of those who serve the nation. It sends a strong message to government authorities to prioritize fairness and compassion, particularly in cases involving armed forces families. The widow’s pension rights remain protected, reinforcing the principle of social justice.
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