Punjab

WIDOW AT 80 OF A SOLDIER PERMANENTLY DISABLED DURING 1971 INDO-PAK WAR SEEKS GRANT OF 50 LACS

January 14, 2021 07:19 PM

  Chandigarh (Subhash Jindal)

-80 years’ old Widow of a soldier, who was permanently disabled during 1971 Indo-Pak War, about half a century ago, approaches Punjab and Haryana High Court for seeking a grant of Rs.50 lakh.

Late N/Subedar Mukand Singh, a resident of village Fatehgarh Panj Grain (Malerkotla Tehsil), and a gunner in Indian Army, was permanently disabled in 1971 during Indo Pak War, resulting from a mine blast.. He later on died in February, 2002. During his life time, he submitted representations to Punjab Government, for allotment of 10 acres of land under the Punjab Package Deal Properties ( Disposal) Rules, 1976. Matter lingered on for years together till he died. His widow, Swaran Kaur continued her struggle for such grant. She is presently of 80 years of age.

During intervening period, due to non-availability of cultivate land for allotment , the State Government issued a notification dated 19.10.2016, providing for grant of Rs.50 lakhs, in three instalments of Rs.20/15/15 lakh , in lieu of land. During 2017 and 2018, the Defence Services Welfare Department released such grant to atleast to 7 permanently disabled soldiers of 1962 (Indo-China War) and those of 1965/1971 (Indo-Pak wars), but this widow was left out. Her fault was that her husband, though permanently disabled during 1971 war, had died, and as orally conveyed to her by concerned officials, she, as a widow, can not claim such grant. 

During intervening period, due to non-availability of cultivate land for allotment , the State Government issued a notification dated 19.10.2016, providing for grant of Rs.50 lakhs, in three instalments of Rs.20/15/15 lakh , in lieu of land. During 2017 and 2018, the Defence Services Welfare Department released such grant to atleast to 7 permanently disabled soldiers of 1962 (Indo-China War) and those of 1965/1971 (Indo-Pak wars), but this widow was left out. Her fault was that her husband, though permanently disabled during 1971 war, had died, and as orally conveyed to her by concerned officials, she, as a widow, can not claim such grant. 

It is now in these circumstances that widow has approached the HC, and Justice Rekha Mittal today issued notices to Punjab Government, and Director Defence Services Welfare Department for March 1st, 2021. Government is now called upon to file its reply as to how a widow is not entitled to the dues which the Government did not pay to the permanently disabled soldier during his life time.

 
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