Kamalbai Sinkar Vs. State of Maharashtra & Ors.
EmailAppeal: Civil Appeal No. 5344 of 2012
[Arising out of SLP (C) No. 8899 of 2010]
[Arising out of SLP (C) No. 8899 of 2010]
Petitioner: Kamalbai Sinkar
Respondent: State of Maharashtra & Ors.
Apeal: Civil Appeal No. 5344 of 2012
[Arising out of SLP (C) No. 8899 of 2010]
[Arising out of SLP (C) No. 8899 of 2010]
Judges: T.S. Thakur & Fakkir Mohamed Ibrahim Kalifulla, JJ.
Date of Judgment: Jul 20, 2012
Head Note:
Pension
Freedom Fighters Pension – Government Resolution dated 04.07.1995, specifying Freedom Fighters Pension under two categories – Application for claiming pension under Underground Freedom Fighter category with various certificates annexed, forwarded to State Government – Collector forwarded his letter dt. 20.12.1996, and reiterated his recommendation in subsequent communications dated 14.10.2007 and 30.11.2007 – Claim rejected by State Government – No reasons stated – Order confirmed by High Court. Held, claim was not fraudulent or without supporting material. Genuine effort was made to collect all credentials required under the Resolution. Perusal of the documents make out a clear case for grant of Freedom Fighters Pension under the above-said category. High Court failed to examine the grievance. Since appellant’s husband is no more, Respondent State directed to grant the Pension with all arrears to her. Gurdial Singh’s [JT 2001 (8) SC 165] case followed.
Freedom Fighters Pension – Government Resolution dated 04.07.1995, specifying Freedom Fighters Pension under two categories – Application for claiming pension under Underground Freedom Fighter category with various certificates annexed, forwarded to State Government – Collector forwarded his letter dt. 20.12.1996, and reiterated his recommendation in subsequent communications dated 14.10.2007 and 30.11.2007 – Claim rejected by State Government – No reasons stated – Order confirmed by High Court. Held, claim was not fraudulent or without supporting material. Genuine effort was made to collect all credentials required under the Resolution. Perusal of the documents make out a clear case for grant of Freedom Fighters Pension under the above-said category. High Court failed to examine the grievance. Since appellant’s husband is no more, Respondent State directed to grant the Pension with all arrears to her. Gurdial Singh’s [JT 2001 (8) SC 165] case followed.
Held:
The appellants husband made a genuine effort to collect all those credentials in his support as required under the Resolution of the State Government dated 04.07.1995, and forwarded them to the State Government along with his application dated 05.08.1995. When the Collector, Amravati forwarded his letter dated 20.12.1996 and reiterated his recommendation in his subsequent communications dated 14.10.2007 and 30.11.2007 there was no reason for the State Government to simply reject the application without assigning any reason. A perusal of the documents enclosed by the appellants husband along with his application disclose that the appellants husband made out a case for grant of Freedom Fighters Pension under the category Underground Freedom Fighter. Applying the broad principles laid down in the decision of this Court in Gurdial Singh (supra), it will have to be held that there was nothing more for the State to examine to honour the claim of the appellants husband for grant of Freedom Fighters Pension. The claim of the appellants husband cannot be held to be a fraudulent one or without any supporting material.
Cases Reffered:
1. Gurdial Singh v. Union of India & Ors. [JT 2001 (8) SC 165] (Para 6)
JUDGEMENT:
Fakkir Mohamed Ibrahim Kalifulla, J.
1. Leave granted.
2. This appeal arises out of the order passed by the High Court in the Writ Petition in which the claim of the appellants husband for grant of Freedom Fighters Pension came to be rejected. Today the original applicant is not available and his wife is pursuing this litigation. By a Government Resolution dated 04.07.1995, after making references to various other earlier resolutions of the Government of Maharashtra relating to grant of Freedom Fighters Pension, the criteria for grant of Freedom Fighters Pension was specified under two different categories, namely, one under Prisoners Freedom Fighter and the other under the category of Underground Freedom Fighter. The claim of the appellants husband was under the second category, namely, Underground Freedom Fighter.
3. For grant of pension under the said category following requisites were stipulated:
E) Underground Freedom Fighter:
Those freedom fighters who were under ground and doing a work in a movement of Quit India 1942-44 and Hyderabad Mukti Sangram 1947-48. They submit the following necessary certificates:
1) Required to quit house and stay outside.
2) Required to leave education or removed from Educational Institutions.
3) Was so beaten by the police that caused disability.
2) The Certificates of two Freedom Fighters who were convicted for minimum two years or who were declared absconding or who remained absconded for at least two years and along with such certificates, the Proclamation of conviction or absconding or supporting affidavit of person issuing such certificate alongwith the orders of Government.
4) The certified copy, if any, Government document of that time is available regarding the underground.
5) If any information about the name published in newspapers, the original newspaper.
6) At the time of remark, District Gaurao Committee shall submit their opinion.
4. The said Resolution was issued with the consent of the Finance Department bearing reference No. C.R-1183/94/VY-4 dated 10.11.1994. Pursuant to the said resolution dated 04.07.1995, the husband of the appellant forwarded his application dated 05.08.1995 through the Collector of Amravati. Along with the said application, he also enclosed certain Annexures (viz) a certificate of renowned freedom fighter dated 24.04.1984 by name Shankar Pandurangji Choudhari, a certificate issued by Mr. Maganlal Bagdi, Ex-MP, Hoshangabad along with his own certificate, a certificate of Patwari Kasba, Warud Division, Taluk Warud dated 29.09.1981, a certificate dated 08.06.1981 of freedom fighter S.P.Choudhary of Warud Taluk, Amravati District, a certificate issued by the office of Naib Tehsildar, M.K. Puranik dated 05.08.1961 in favour of Shankar Pandurang Choudhary about the imprisonments suffered by him and a medical certificate dated 15.08.1981 issued by Dr. S.G. Choudhari in favour of the applicant about his participation in Satyagraha Morcha on 13.08.1942, the injuries suffered by him in the Lathi Charge and the treatment given to him between 13.08.1942 to 15.08.1942.
5. Based on an earlier order passed by the Nagpur Bench of the High Court in Writ Petition No.424 of 2007, the Collector of Amravati in his letter dated 29.10.2009 informed the appellant that her husbands claim for grant of Freedom Fighters Pension was submitted to the Government along with recommendation of the Gaurav Samiti dated 20.12.1996. The appellant was advised to contact the Government. However, in the order of the State Government dated 22.01.2008 communicated to the Collector of Amravati, it was stated that there was no concrete evidence in proof of the participation of the freedom fight movement by the husband of the appellant and his claim for grant of Freedom Fighters Pension was, therefore, rejected. The Collector was directed to communicate the same to the appellant.
6. Having perused the above materials on record, at the very outset, we wish to refer to the observations made by this Court in regard to the grant of Freedom Fighters Pension in the decision reported in Gurdial Singh v. Union of India & Ors. [JT 2001 (8) SC 165 : 2001 (8) SCC 8]. In paragraph 7 of the judgment, this Court has highlighted the manner in which such claims are to be considered for grant of Freedom Fighters Pension. It will be worthwhile to make a reference to the said passage before expressing our conclusion with regard to the claim of the appellants husband in the case on hand. Paragraph 7 reads as under:
7.The standard of proof required in such cases is not such standard which is required in a criminal case or in a case adjudicated upon rival contentions or evidence of the parties. As the object of the Scheme is to honour and to mitigate the sufferings of those who had given their all for the country, a liberal and not a technical approach is required to be followed while determining the merits of the case of a person seeking pension under the Scheme. It should not be forgotten that the persons intended to be covered by the Scheme had suffered for the country about half-a-century back and had not expected to be rewarded for the imprisonment suffered by them. Once the country has decided to honour such freedom fighters, the bureaucrats entrusted with the job of examining the cases of such freedom fighters are expected to keep in mind the purpose and object of the Scheme. The case of the claimants under this Scheme is required to be determined on the basis of the probabilities and not on the touchstone of the test of beyond reasonable doubt.
Once on the basis of the evidence it is probabilised that the claimant had suffered imprisonment for the cause of the country and during the freedom struggle, a presumption is required to be drawn in his favour unless the same is rebutted by cogent, reasonable and reliable evidence.
[emphasis added]
7. Keeping the above broad principles in mind, when we analyse the claim of the appellants husband, we find that the appellants husband had filed along with his application dated 05.08.1995, a host of documents in support of his claim. They were shown as Annexures to his application and the details of which have been referred to by us in the earlier part of this order. In fact after the order of the Nagpur Bench passed in WP No.424 of 2007, the Government in its communication dated 23.11.2007 addressed to the Collector of Amravati stated that the claim of the appellants husband was not traceable and, therefore, all related documents were once again required to be collected and submitted to the Government including recommendations of Gaurav Samiti as well as the Collectors comments. Apparently, pursuant to the said communication, the Collector in his letter dated 29.10.2009 informed the appellant that the case submitted by her husband for getting pension as Underground Freedom Fighter was submitted to the Government along with office letter bearing No.KL/SS/PP/KV/3216 dated 20.12.1996 and the recommendations of Gaurav Samiti.
8. In the said circumstances, we only state that the appellants husband made a genuine effort to collect all those credentials in his support as required under the Resolution of the State Government dated 04.07.1995, and forwarded them to the State Government along with his application dated 05.08.1995. When the Collector, Amravati forwarded his letter dated 20.12.1996 and reiterated his recommendation in his subsequent communications dated 14.10.2007 and 30.11.2007 there was no reason for the State Government to simply reject the application without assigning any reason. A perusal of the documents enclosed by the appellants husband along with his application disclose that the appellants husband made out a case for grant of Freedom Fighters Pension under the category Underground Freedom Fighter. Applying the broad principles laid down in the decision of this Court in Gurdial Singh (supra), it will have to be held that there was nothing more for the State to examine to honour the claim of the appellants husband for grant of Freedom Fighters Pension. The claim of the appellants husband cannot be held to be a fraudulent one or without any supporting material.
9. In our considered view, the High Court ought to have examined the grievance of the appellant before confirming the order of rejection of the respondent State. In the circumstances, the appeal deserves to be allowed.
9.1. The impugned orders are set aside. The respondent State is directed to grant Freedom Fighters Pension in favour of the appellants husband and since he is no more, grant the same with all arrears to the appellant by passing appropriate orders expeditiously preferably within four weeks from the date of communication of copy of this order. We hope and trust that the State Government will not indulge in any further delay in the matter of grant of pension so as to enable the appellant to avail the benefits at least during her life time. The appeal stands allowed with the above directions to the respondent State. No costs.
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1. Leave granted.
2. This appeal arises out of the order passed by the High Court in the Writ Petition in which the claim of the appellants husband for grant of Freedom Fighters Pension came to be rejected. Today the original applicant is not available and his wife is pursuing this litigation. By a Government Resolution dated 04.07.1995, after making references to various other earlier resolutions of the Government of Maharashtra relating to grant of Freedom Fighters Pension, the criteria for grant of Freedom Fighters Pension was specified under two different categories, namely, one under Prisoners Freedom Fighter and the other under the category of Underground Freedom Fighter. The claim of the appellants husband was under the second category, namely, Underground Freedom Fighter.
3. For grant of pension under the said category following requisites were stipulated:
E) Underground Freedom Fighter:
Those freedom fighters who were under ground and doing a work in a movement of Quit India 1942-44 and Hyderabad Mukti Sangram 1947-48. They submit the following necessary certificates:
1) Required to quit house and stay outside.
2) Required to leave education or removed from Educational Institutions.
3) Was so beaten by the police that caused disability.
2) The Certificates of two Freedom Fighters who were convicted for minimum two years or who were declared absconding or who remained absconded for at least two years and along with such certificates, the Proclamation of conviction or absconding or supporting affidavit of person issuing such certificate alongwith the orders of Government.
4) The certified copy, if any, Government document of that time is available regarding the underground.
5) If any information about the name published in newspapers, the original newspaper.
6) At the time of remark, District Gaurao Committee shall submit their opinion.
4. The said Resolution was issued with the consent of the Finance Department bearing reference No. C.R-1183/94/VY-4 dated 10.11.1994. Pursuant to the said resolution dated 04.07.1995, the husband of the appellant forwarded his application dated 05.08.1995 through the Collector of Amravati. Along with the said application, he also enclosed certain Annexures (viz) a certificate of renowned freedom fighter dated 24.04.1984 by name Shankar Pandurangji Choudhari, a certificate issued by Mr. Maganlal Bagdi, Ex-MP, Hoshangabad along with his own certificate, a certificate of Patwari Kasba, Warud Division, Taluk Warud dated 29.09.1981, a certificate dated 08.06.1981 of freedom fighter S.P.Choudhary of Warud Taluk, Amravati District, a certificate issued by the office of Naib Tehsildar, M.K. Puranik dated 05.08.1961 in favour of Shankar Pandurang Choudhary about the imprisonments suffered by him and a medical certificate dated 15.08.1981 issued by Dr. S.G. Choudhari in favour of the applicant about his participation in Satyagraha Morcha on 13.08.1942, the injuries suffered by him in the Lathi Charge and the treatment given to him between 13.08.1942 to 15.08.1942.
5. Based on an earlier order passed by the Nagpur Bench of the High Court in Writ Petition No.424 of 2007, the Collector of Amravati in his letter dated 29.10.2009 informed the appellant that her husbands claim for grant of Freedom Fighters Pension was submitted to the Government along with recommendation of the Gaurav Samiti dated 20.12.1996. The appellant was advised to contact the Government. However, in the order of the State Government dated 22.01.2008 communicated to the Collector of Amravati, it was stated that there was no concrete evidence in proof of the participation of the freedom fight movement by the husband of the appellant and his claim for grant of Freedom Fighters Pension was, therefore, rejected. The Collector was directed to communicate the same to the appellant.
6. Having perused the above materials on record, at the very outset, we wish to refer to the observations made by this Court in regard to the grant of Freedom Fighters Pension in the decision reported in Gurdial Singh v. Union of India & Ors. [JT 2001 (8) SC 165 : 2001 (8) SCC 8]. In paragraph 7 of the judgment, this Court has highlighted the manner in which such claims are to be considered for grant of Freedom Fighters Pension. It will be worthwhile to make a reference to the said passage before expressing our conclusion with regard to the claim of the appellants husband in the case on hand. Paragraph 7 reads as under:
7.The standard of proof required in such cases is not such standard which is required in a criminal case or in a case adjudicated upon rival contentions or evidence of the parties. As the object of the Scheme is to honour and to mitigate the sufferings of those who had given their all for the country, a liberal and not a technical approach is required to be followed while determining the merits of the case of a person seeking pension under the Scheme. It should not be forgotten that the persons intended to be covered by the Scheme had suffered for the country about half-a-century back and had not expected to be rewarded for the imprisonment suffered by them. Once the country has decided to honour such freedom fighters, the bureaucrats entrusted with the job of examining the cases of such freedom fighters are expected to keep in mind the purpose and object of the Scheme. The case of the claimants under this Scheme is required to be determined on the basis of the probabilities and not on the touchstone of the test of beyond reasonable doubt.
Once on the basis of the evidence it is probabilised that the claimant had suffered imprisonment for the cause of the country and during the freedom struggle, a presumption is required to be drawn in his favour unless the same is rebutted by cogent, reasonable and reliable evidence.
[emphasis added]
7. Keeping the above broad principles in mind, when we analyse the claim of the appellants husband, we find that the appellants husband had filed along with his application dated 05.08.1995, a host of documents in support of his claim. They were shown as Annexures to his application and the details of which have been referred to by us in the earlier part of this order. In fact after the order of the Nagpur Bench passed in WP No.424 of 2007, the Government in its communication dated 23.11.2007 addressed to the Collector of Amravati stated that the claim of the appellants husband was not traceable and, therefore, all related documents were once again required to be collected and submitted to the Government including recommendations of Gaurav Samiti as well as the Collectors comments. Apparently, pursuant to the said communication, the Collector in his letter dated 29.10.2009 informed the appellant that the case submitted by her husband for getting pension as Underground Freedom Fighter was submitted to the Government along with office letter bearing No.KL/SS/PP/KV/3216 dated 20.12.1996 and the recommendations of Gaurav Samiti.
8. In the said circumstances, we only state that the appellants husband made a genuine effort to collect all those credentials in his support as required under the Resolution of the State Government dated 04.07.1995, and forwarded them to the State Government along with his application dated 05.08.1995. When the Collector, Amravati forwarded his letter dated 20.12.1996 and reiterated his recommendation in his subsequent communications dated 14.10.2007 and 30.11.2007 there was no reason for the State Government to simply reject the application without assigning any reason. A perusal of the documents enclosed by the appellants husband along with his application disclose that the appellants husband made out a case for grant of Freedom Fighters Pension under the category Underground Freedom Fighter. Applying the broad principles laid down in the decision of this Court in Gurdial Singh (supra), it will have to be held that there was nothing more for the State to examine to honour the claim of the appellants husband for grant of Freedom Fighters Pension. The claim of the appellants husband cannot be held to be a fraudulent one or without any supporting material.
9. In our considered view, the High Court ought to have examined the grievance of the appellant before confirming the order of rejection of the respondent State. In the circumstances, the appeal deserves to be allowed.
9.1. The impugned orders are set aside. The respondent State is directed to grant Freedom Fighters Pension in favour of the appellants husband and since he is no more, grant the same with all arrears to the appellant by passing appropriate orders expeditiously preferably within four weeks from the date of communication of copy of this order. We hope and trust that the State Government will not indulge in any further delay in the matter of grant of pension so as to enable the appellant to avail the benefits at least during her life time. The appeal stands allowed with the above directions to the respondent State. No costs.
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