Pushpa Vanti v. Union of India & Ors.

Supreme Court15 Nov 20102010 INSC 778 · [2010] 13 S.C.R. 7842010 INSC 778

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Armed Forces Grievances Redressal Commission; Article 32 writ petition; Army Major's widow; pension fixation and arrears; Rs.80 per month pension; service conditions and pension grievances; one rank one pension; recommendatory body versus Armed Forces Tribunal; rehabilitation of discharged soldiers; Justice Kuldip Singh Chairman; Justice S.S. Sodhi Vice-Chairman; General V.P. Malik; Lt. General Vijay Oberoi; Chandigarh headquarters; claim referred to Commission; writ petition adjourned.

What did the court decide?

Directions issued for constitution of the Armed Forces Grievances Redressal Commission; the petitioner's claim for correct pension and arrears referred to the Commission for expeditious consideration; the writ petition was adjourned (to be listed again). ¶¶96

Pushpa Vanti versus Union of India & Ors. — Writ and Judicial Review | Supreme Court (2010)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

¶¶96

Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioner, a widow of an Army Major receiving only Rs.80/- per month as pension, is entitled to fixation of her correct pension and payment of arrears. +1 more

¶¶25

Court's answer

The claim of the petitioner stands referred to the Commission; the Registry was to send copies of the papers to the nominated members forthwith and the claim is to be considered expeditiously.

¶¶92

Ratio / Principle

The Central Government was directed to set up, within two months, a Commission to be called the Armed Forces Grievances Redressal Commission.

¶¶50

Key takeaways

The Commission is to look into grievances (sent in writing or by e-mail) of serving or former members of the Army, Navy and Air Force, their widows or family members, and make suitable recommendations expeditiously to the Central Government.ratio¶¶52
The first Commission consists of a retired Supreme Court Judge as Chairman (first Chairman: Hon'ble Mr. Justice Kuldip Singh), a former Chief Justice of a High Court as Vice-Chairman (first: Justice S.S. Sodhi, retired Chief Justice, Allahabad High Court), a retired Chief of Army Staff (Gen. V.P. Malik), a retired Vice Chief of Army Staff (Lt. Gen. Vijay Oberoi), and a civil servant member to be appointed by the Central Government.ratio¶¶63

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Armed Forces Grievances Redressal Commission constituted by Supreme Court under Article 32 — A widow of an Army Major who fought in the 1948, 1962 and 1965 wars and was decorated with fourteen medals, but received only Rs.80/- per month as pension, sought fixation of her correct pension and arrears. Noticing widespread discontent among serving and former members of the armed forces and their widows and family members over service conditions, pay, allowances and pension matters, the Court directed the Central Government to set up within two months an Armed Forces Grievances Redressal Commission, chaired by a retired Supreme Court Judge (first Chairman: Justice Kuldip Singh), with a former High Court Chief Justice as Vice-Chairman (first: Justice S.S. Sodhi), Gen. V.P. Malik and Lt. Gen. Vijay Oberoi among the first members, and a civil servant member appointed by the Government. Headquartered at Chandigarh, the first Commission's term is two years, renewable at the Government's option, subsequent members being Government-appointed. Distinct from the Armed Forces Tribunal, the Commission is recommendatory and not adjudicatory, and is not confined to existing rules — it may recommend changes to service-condition and pension rules found defective or inadequate; it is also to frame a rehabilitation scheme for discharged soldiers. All civil and military authorities were directed to extend cooperation. The petitioner's claim stood referred to the Commission for expeditious consideration, and the writ petition was adjourned.

¶1

[201 O] 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R. 784

PUSHPA VANTI

UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

¶6

(Writ Petition (c) No. 291 of 2010)

¶7

¶8

NOVEMBER 15,2010

¶9

[MARKANDEY KAT JU AND GYAN SUDHA MISRA, JJ.]

¶10

ARMED FORCES:

¶11

c Pension - Claimed by a widow of Army Major - Court noticing wide-spread discontent among the serving and former members of armed forces and their widows and family members regarding their service conditions, pension etc. and Jack of proper attention by bureaucrats to their grievances - Court appointed Armed Forces Grievances Redressal 0 Commission - The term of the first Commission fixed for two years from the date of its constitution - The subsequent Commission shall be appointed by the Central Government - Directions about Headquarters and set-up offices of the E Commission, sitting of the Commission etc given - It is made clear that the Commission swould be different from the Armed Forces Tribunal, in as much as the Commission would be a recommendatory body and not an adjudicatory body and would not be confined to following the relevant rules relating to service conditions, pension etc. but can recommend F change of the same, if required - Claim of the petitioner shall stand referred to the Commission for its consideration expeditiously - Commissions and Inquiries - Setting up of Armed Forces Grievances Redressal Commission - Service Law - Pension.

¶12

¶13

CIVIL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION : Writ Petition (Civil) No. 291 of 2010.

¶14

(Under Article 32 of the Constitution of India).

¶15

¶16

784

¶17

PUSHPA VANTI v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. 785

¶18

Dr. Ramesh K. Haritash, B.B,. Trikha, Bansuri Swaraj, A Savita Devi (for Dr. Kailash Chand) for the Pettioner.

¶19

Gopal Subramaniam SG, Anirudh Kumar, Subhash Kaushik, Anil Katiyar for the Respondents.

¶20

The following Order of the Court was delivered

¶21

¶22

ORDER

¶23

In this case we had issued notice to the respondents on 17.9.2010 but no counter affidavit has been filed.

¶24

¶25

The petitioner before us in the present case is a widow Pushpa Vanti, whose husband was an army major who had fought in three wars (in 1948, 1962 and 1965) and was decorated with fourteen medals. However, the petitioner is getting only Rs.80/- per month as pension, in these days when a kilogram of arhar dal costs that amount. She has prayed for fixation of her correct pension and arrears.

¶26

¶27

The Indian armed forces are bravely defending the borders of the country, often standing on guard at a height of 20,000 feet and in minus 30oC temperature, day and night so that the people of India can live, work and sleep in peace.

¶28

¶29

However, there is widespread discontent among the serving and former members of the armed forces (by which we mean the Army, Navy and Air Force) and their widows and family members regarding their service conditions e.g. pay scales, allowances, anomalies regarding pensions, inadequate pension (particularly to those disabled while in service), widows benefits, promotion matters (including promotion policy and process) etc .. They have a feeling that the bureaucrats do not care for them and do not properly address their grievances. As a result, thousands of ex- armed forces personnel have returned their medals, and some have even burnt their artificial limbs.

¶30

¶31

¶32

These grievances include the grievances relating to pay,

¶33

¶34

786 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2010) 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.

¶35

A allowances, one rank one pension, other pension matters, suitable benefits to be granted to war veterans, war widows, promotion matters, rehabilitation of soldiers who are discharged at a young age, etc.

¶36

B 6. In a recent panel discussion 'We The People' on NDTV channel some of these wievances were highlighted.

¶37

Our courts of law are flooded with cases relating to members, both serving and retired, of the armed forces e.g. cases relating to pension, promotion, etc and the obvious C reason is that the armed forces personnel have a feeling that their grievances are not being properly addressed.

¶38

The great Prime Minister of Magadha, Chanakya, told Emperor Chandragupta Maurya :

¶39

¶40

"Pataliputra rests each night in peaceful comfort, 0 King, secure in the belief that the distant borders of Magadha are inviolate and the interiors are safe and secure, thanks only to the Mauryan Army standing vigil with naked swords and eyes peeled for action, day and night, in weatherfair and foul, all eight E praharas (i.e. round the clock), quite unmindful of personal discomfort and hardship, all through the year, year after year.

¶41

To this man, 0 Rajadhiraja, you owe a debt: please, therefore, see to it, suo motu, that the soldier continuously gets F his dues in every form and respect, be they his needs or his wants, for he is not likely to ask for them himself

¶42

¶43

The day the soldier has to demand his dues will be a sad day for Magadha; for then, on that day, you will have lost all moral sanction to be king!"

¶44

Today our ex-soldiers have not only been demanding but are agitating to get their legitimate dues. They were compelled to resort to public protests and even return their War-medals and burn their artificial limbs, as was done by Capt. C.S. Sidhu H whose right arm was amputated while serving at the front but

¶45

PUSHPA VANTI v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

¶46

787

¶47

was getting a pittance as pension (see judgment of this Court in Union of India & Anr. vs. C. S. Sidhu in Civil Appeal No.44 7 4 of 2005 dated 31st March, 2010). This, in our opinion, is not good for the nation. The armed forces personnel should have a feeling that their grievances are heard by an independent body. Even if some of their demands are not accepted, they will have a feeling that they were given a proper hearing.

¶48

¶49

¶50

We, therefore, direct the Central Government to set up within two months from today a Commission which shall be called the Armed Forces Grievances Redressal Commission.

¶51

¶52

This Commission will look into any grievances (sent to them in writing or by e-mail) by serving or former members of the armed forces (i.e. Army, Navy and Air Force) or their widows or family members and make suitable recommendations expeditiously to the Central Government in this connection.

¶53

The Commission will also frame and recommend to the Central Government a scheme for proper rehabilitation of discharged soldiers. At present the position is that a soldier is ordinarily recruited at the age of about 18 years, and if he does not rise above the rank of Jawan he is discharged after 15 years of service. If he is promoted, his tenure is extended on each promotion. Thus, if he reaches the rank of Havildar but no further he will retire after 22 years of service, i.e. at the age of 40. Thus a soldier is retired when he is in the prime of life. During his service he spends only about 2 months per year with his family. There is no doubt a Resettlement Directorate in the Army Headquarters, but we are informed that it is not a very effective body. If a soldier is discharged between the age of 35-45 how will he support his family ? At that age he is likely to have a wife and children. Hence he should be given alternative employment so that he can support his family. The Commission will go into this matter also in detail and suggest appropriate schemes for rehabilitation of ex-armed forces personnel who

788 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2010] 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.

¶61

A are retired at a relatively young age.

¶62

The aforesaid Commission shall consist of the following members :

¶63

B	1.	A retired Judgeofthe Supreme Court of Indiaas the Chairman of the Commission.
		The first Chairman shall be Hon'ble Mr. Justice Kuldip Singh, former Judge, Supreme Court.
c	2.	A former Chief Justice oftheHigh Courtasthe Vice Chairman of the Commission. The Vice Chairman will officiate as the Chairmaninabsenceofthe Chairman.
		The first Vice Chairman shallbeHon'bleMr.Justice
D		S.S. Sodhi, retired Chief Justiceofthe Allahabad High Court.
	3.	A retired Chief of Army staffasa Memberofthe Commission.
E		We appoint General V.P. Malik, retired Chiefof Army staff, tobea Member of the Commission.
F	4.	Any retired Chief or Vice Chief or Deputy Chiefof the Army, Navy or Air Forceasa Memberofthe Commission.
G H		Inthe first CommissionweappointLt.General Vijay Oberoi, retired Vice Chief of Army Staff, to be a Member of the Commission(General Oberoi is the Douglas Bader of the Indian Armed Forces, his one foot having been shot and later amputated due to a burst of machine gun fireinthe 1965 lndo-Pak war, whenhewas a young Captain. Despite this he rose to become aLt.General and Vice Chief of the Army).

¶64

PUSHPA VANTI v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. 789

¶65

A civil servant, whether serving or retired, as a Member of the Commission, to be appointed by the Central Government, at its discretion. ·

¶66

The term of the first Commission will be for two years from the date of its constitution but it will be renewable at the option of the Central Government. The subsequent Commission members (after the two year term of the first Commission has expired) shall be appointed by the Central Government.

¶67

Since most of the aforesaid members in the first Commission are based in Chandigarh hence we direct that the headquarters of the Commission shall be at Chandigarh. For this purpose a suitable building will be allotted at the earliest at Chandigarh by the Union Territory of Chandigarh in consultation with the Central Government which will be used as the office-cum-secretariat of the Commission. This building must have sufficient rooms to provide an office for each member of the Commission. The Central Government will allot adequate secretarial and other staff and infrastructure and equipment (including computers, telephones etc.) for the office and members of the Commission as desired by the Chairman.

¶68

In addition to the headquarters of the Commission at Chandigarh there will also be set-up offices of the Commission at Delhi and such other places as the Chairman of the Commission may direct. The Central Government and concerned State Governments/Union Territories will provide the necessary staff and infrastructure as the Chairman may direct for this purpose.

¶69

All the members of the Commission shall sit together whenever issues of general importance are to be considered. However, in any matter relating to individuals or a few persons only the Chairman can appoint a smaller Committee consisting of one or more members as he decides.

¶70

"As regards their salary, allowances and other benefits

790 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2010] 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.

¶80

A the members of the Commission shall receive what the present incumbents holding posts equivalent to those held by them at the time of their retirement are now entitled to." They will also be given traveling and such other allowances as the Chairman decides if they have to travel to other places away from·

¶81

B Chandigarh. The fifth member, if a retired person, will also get the same.

¶82

We make it clear that this Commission is different from the Armed Forces Tribunal in the following ways :

¶83

¶84

¶85

1 . The Commission is only a recommendatory body and not an adjudicatory body. Hence it is open to the Central Government to accept or not to accept its recommendations, though of course since such recommendations will be coming· from a high powered body the Central Government must give due weight to the same.

¶86

Whereas the Armed Forces Tribunal can only decide cases in accordance with the rules, the Commission can recommend even change of the

¶87

E rules where it feels that the same are defective or inadequate. In other words, the Commission is not confined to following the relevant rules relating to service conditions, pension, etc. but it can recommend change of the same where it feels that

¶88

F the same are defective or inadequate.

¶89

We further direct all authorities in India, Civil or Military (including the Secretary, Defence, Union of India, and the Chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Staffs) to extend all cooperation to G the Commission to enable it to discharge its functions effectively.

¶90

The notification constituting the Commission as provided above will be issued by the Central government H forthwith.

¶91

PUSHPA VANTI v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. 791

¶92

The claim of the petitioner in this case shall stand referred to the Commission. The Registry of this Court shall send copies of the papers of this case forthwith to the members of the Commission nominated by us, and the petitioner's claim shall be considered expeditiously. Claims of other armed forces personnel (serving or retired) should also be considered expeditiously.

¶93

¶94

¶95

List this case again on 7.2.2011.

¶96

R.P. Writ petition adjourned.

Pushpa Vanti v. Union of India & Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Pushpa Vanti v. Union of India & Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Why is it important?

What the court decided

Issues for consideration

Cases cited

Statutes considered

Procedural history

Parties & counsel

Coram

Case details

Similar cases

Satya Narayana Tiwari and Anr. versus State of U.P.

Manoj Yadav versus Pushpa @ Kiran Yadav

Thathamsetty Suresh versus State of A.P.

Rajbir @ Raju and Anr. versus State of Haryana