Orissa High Court orders grant of pension to 101-yr-old freedom fighter

Bhubaneswar, July 31 (UNI) The Orissa High Court has directed the State Government to disburse the Swatantrata Sainik Samman pension to a 101-year-old freedom fighter, who took part in quit India movement, within six weeks saying that “it is the solemn duty of the State to honour the freedom fighters for the sacrifices made by them”.

Brahmananda Jena, laying claim to be a freedom fighter, had approached the Court seeking a direction to the government authorities to grant him Freedom Fighter’s Pension.

However the authorities had rejected his application to be a freedom fighter on multiple technical grounds.

Jena in his application had enclosed the affidavits of two freedom fighters of the State, who are availing pension, certifying his participation in the freedom movement.

The petitioner was
informed in response to his application under the RTI Act that the matter was under process.

But the grant of pension eluded him over the years.

“This Court has on more than one occasion reiterated the view that it is the solemn duty of the State to honour the freedom fighters for the sacrifices made by them to attain freedom from colonial rule.

Of course, this Court hastens to act that it can never be the intention of the Scheme to entertain false, frivolous or fake claims, but care must be taken to ensure that the genuine claims are not thrown out on trivial grounds”, Justice Sashikanta Mishra stated in the judgment pronounced on July 29.

Allowing the writ petition filed by the freedom fighter at the fag end of his life, Justice Mishra directed the authorities to sanction and disburse Freedom Fighter’s Pension to the petitioner as admissible in law without any further delay and in any case, not later than six weeks from the date of production of certified copy of this order by the petitioner.