An anguished Supreme Court on Friday voiced its dismay over a paltry pension of `70 being paid to an octogenarian widow of an Indian Army Major who fought in the 1962 and 1965 wars against China and Pakistan respectively.
The division bench was hearing a writ petition filed by 90-year old Pushpavanthi through her counsel complaining that she was getting a paltry of `70 as family pension on behalf of her 42-year-old late husband Major Dharam Chand, who died in March 1967.
Moved by the plight of Ms Pushpavanthi, who has no other option but only to approach the apex court for her humilating situation, a division bench comprising Justices Markandey Katju and T.S. Thakur, observed, “What is this? You are paying her just `70 per month. Today in the present rate of inflation even 1 kg of arhar dal cost around `80,” and issued notice to the Union of India and the Army Chief.
B.B. Trikha, lawyer appearing for Ms Pushpavanthi, submitted before the apex court that Dharam Chand was a decorated officer having fought for the country during the 1947-48 Indo-Pak war, 1962 Indo-China war and again in the 1965 Indo-Pak war.
Mr Trikha also said that he was a recipient of 14 medals during his two decades of service and died in harness following a heart attack. After Dharam Chand’s death in 1967, Ms Pushpavanthi, was running from pillar to post making representation to various officials including the Army chief for enhancing the pension. But, the authorities have turned a deaf ear to her problem. Dharam Chand, who joined the British India Army in 1937, was promoted as a junior commissioned officer in 1946.