Court upholds Veer Chakra awardee's claim of dues

JABALPUR/BHOPAL: A division bench of MP high court upheld a single-judge bench's order asking the state government to pay Rs 8 lakh to a retired Major of Indian Army in recognition of his excellent services in the Army. He will also be entitled to an additional amount of Rs 2,500 per month. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the state government for delay in filing appeal.

Major Chandrakant Singh was awarded a Veer Chakra for his gallantry services during 1971 war. Singh retired from the post of Major in 1974. The state government had started a scheme in 1976 under which any officer of Indian armed forces, who is accorded any of the gallantry awards, was entitled to eight hectares of land in his home town after retirement. Singh applied for allotment of land in his home town Panna. He also wrote to the chief minister and officials. However, he didn't get any land.

In 2011, the scheme was modified and in place of land, it was stipulated that an officer decorated with a gallantry award would be given Rs 8 lakh upon retirement and Rs 2,500 per month in addition to his pension.

The retired Major moved the high court to get his dues. In its order on November, 2017, the single-judge bench passed an order in favour of the retired Army official and also slapped a fine of Rs 25,000 on the state government towards litigation cost for the petitioner.

The state government appealed against the order in the division bench contending that he was not eligible for the award because by the time the scheme was launched in 1976, he had retired from service. Similarly, award as stipulated in 2011 scheme can't be given to him either because it's for the soldiers, who retired after 2011. But, the bench comprising chief justice S K Seth and Justice V K Shukla dismissed the petition and ordered for payment of dues to the retired Major. The court also slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 for delay in filing appeal.


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