The Supreme Court has delivered a stern reprimand to the Central government, slapping a ₹50,000 cost for challenging the grant of Liberalized Family Pension to the widow of a soldier who died in 2013 while on duty near the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The Bench, led by Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih, expressed dismay at the government’s insensitivity, highlighting how it dragged the case to the apex court instead of showing compassion for the widow.
The soldier passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest during an operation in extreme conditions. Initially classified as a ‘battle casualty,’ the classification was later altered to ‘physical casualty.’ Despite being awarded other benefits, the widow was denied the Liberalized Family Pension (LFP), leading her to seek justice through the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT), which ruled in her favor.
The Union government’s decision to contest the AFT ruling was met with the Court’s condemnation. The justices emphasized that the soldier’s death, caused by illness from extreme weather while performing his duties, should clearly qualify as a ‘battle casualty,’ in accordance with Army regulations. The Court firmly dismissed the appeal, stating that the widow’s husband had died due to circumstances covered by the Army’s guidelines for battle-related deaths.
In a rare move, the Court ordered that the ₹50,000 penalty be paid directly to the widow, underscoring the government’s failure to show the basic empathy owed to those who serve the nation.
