New Delhi: The Supreme Court has
expressed anguish over the manner in which the country`s
freedom fighters are treated by the government even for
granting benefits like pension.
"This appeal is an example and a reflection of the way we
treat our freedom fighters inasmuch 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
exception, wear it as a badge of honour and as a certificate
of recognition of their efforts in the struggle for
independence," the apex court said.
A bench of Justices H S Bedi and T S Thakur made the
remarks while dismissing an appeal filed by Tamil Nadu
government challenging the Madras High Court`s judgement
directing the government to pay pension to a freedom fighter A
Manickam Pillai.
Pillai was recommended pension by a government district
level screening committee of two District Collectors on May
8, 1998.
The recommendation was, however, rejected by the state
government on the ground that in the face of government
order No.30 dated 7th February 1996 such an application had
to be supported by a certificate of a co-prisoner who was a
government-approved certifier and the certificate appended
had been issued by one Mayandi Bharathi who was not a
government-approved certifier.
-PTI
