Chennai: Tribunal directs MoD to pay war veteran's 84-year-old wife pension

Chennai: The Chennai Bench of Armed Forces Tribunal has directed the ministry of defence to pay family pension to the 84-year old wife of a war veteran, who died without getting the benefit in 1991. M Chitti Babu of Mudichur was, discharged from the territorial Army service five decades ago.

In the petition, C. Gajalakshmi, 83, of Mudichur, submitted that her husband M. Chitti Babu served the territorial Army as a fitter. Initially, he was enrolled as a fitter in the territorial Army from August 20, 1942, to March 31, 1946, and later from August 20, 1951, to August 20, 1966.

Territorial Army has been a part of the regular Army and its present role aims to assist the Army in dealing with natural calamities and maintenance of essential services during emergency situations.

Gajalakshmi said her husband took part in 1965 Indo-Pak war. He was discharged due to the reduction of forces. He died on February 1, 1991. She stated that her husband put in more than the requisite service for grant of eligible territorial Army pension. He was not provided with the pension. As he died, she was eligible for the family pension.

In the petition, she sought direction to authorities to provide her with the family pension with arrears.

In the reply, authorities stated that documents relating to M. Chitti Babu were destroyed in 2005 as per regulations of the Army. He served Indian Artillery Reinforcement Battery from 1942 to 1946. As per the entry recorded in the sheet roll, he served in the Territorial Army from 1951 and discharged in 1966. His discharge was recorded as a reduction of forces. Gajalakshmi filed the application after a long delay of 47 years, they said.

The bench comprising, judicial member Justice S. S. Satheesachandran and administrative member said Chitti Babu completed more than 18 years of service. At the time of retirement from the territorial Army, there was no provision for the grant of pensionary benefits to persons retired/discharged from the territorial Army. However, the only service gratuity was paid. The Central Government introduced pensionary benefit only in 1985 to the persons retired/discharged from the territorial Army. Pensionary benefits also given to persons retired prior to July 1985.

The bench directed the authorities to provide family pension to Gajalakshmi from April 1, 2011. The bench also directed the authorities to pay her the arrears in three months.