Bhateri Devi v. Union of India

1. The instant writ petition is directed against letter/communication giving information pursuant to an application filed under Right to Information Act, 2005 (hereinafter referred to as “RTI Act”) dated 03.10.2018, that she is not entitled for dual family pension.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner, invited Court's attention towards the Office Memorandums dated 16.01.2013 and 17.01.2013 to submit that as per these Government Orders, the dependants of petitioner’s husband, who had served in Army from 02.09.1940 to 16.08.1956 are entitled for dual family pension and the reason given by the respondent that when the petitioner’s husband retired from Railway Protection Force (hereinafter referred to as “RPF”) on 30.09.1980, the Government Office Memorandum dated 17.01.2013 was not in force, hence, he is not entitled to pension, is absolutely unsustainable.

3. Taking the Court through the backdrop fact, learned counsel submitted that petitioner’s husband late Hukam Singh was appointed in Army on 02.09.1940 and retired in 1956, whereafter he joined as a Constable in the Railway Protection Force (hereinafter referred to as „RPF‟) and retired on 30.09.1980. He submitted that when the petitioner’s husband retired from RPF, entire GPF amount was returned to him and after his demise on 28.10.2000.

4. When the office memorandum dated 17.01.2013 was issued, the petitioner, being erstwhile Army personnel’s widow filed an application under Right to Information Act 2005, regarding her entitlement to get dual family pension so as to get clarity.

5. He submitted that though the office memorandums dated 16.01.2013 and 17.01.2013 (Annexure- P[1] & P[2]), are clear in this regard, the respondents have informed the petitioner by their letter dated 03.10.2018 pursuant to aforesaid application that she is not entitled to get dual pension.

6. Learned counsel highlighted that communication dated 03.10.2018 (Hindi version) clearly shows that the respondents have admitted the fact that when the petitioner’s husband retired from the services of RPF, the entire amount lying in the credit of his Public Provident Fund had been paid/refunded. And that since on the date of late Hukam Singh’s retirement, i.e. 30.09.1980, the order granting dual pension was not prevailing, she cannot get dual family pension.

7. Learned counsel argued that the Office Memorandum dated 17.01.2013 (Annexure P-2) is abundantly clear and the same unequivocally provides for dual family pension to the next of kin (NOK) of a pensioner, who gets second employment in the Government after being discharged from Military Services.

8. Learned counsel argued that communication sent by the respondent-Joint Secretary, Ministry of Finance, is clearly contrary to the Office Memorandum dated 17.01.2013, and the same is liable to be quashed.

9. Per contra, learned counsel for the respondents, invited the Court's attention towards the reply, which the respondents have filed, and highlighted that as the respondents do not have any record relating to the services rendered by the petitioner’s husband, family pension, as claimed by the petitioner, cannot be awarded.

10. Ms. Lamba, learned counsel for the petitioner in rejoinder, while maintaining that the reason given in the reply/counter affidavit are not in conformity with the communication impugned dated 03.10.2018, argued that the respondent’s plea, is per se unsustainable inasmuch as they have tried to deprive the petitioner of her right of getting family pension vindictively. She submitted that the respondents cannot supply a reason, which do not form part of the communication, that was sent to her.

11. She further submitted that, the petitioner has produced various documents along with her rejoinder, which include copy of Public Provident Fund Account (Annexure-A), copy of Certificate of Service (Annexure-B), copy of Extracts of Register (Annexure-C) and a Group Photograph of RAKSHAK MOHARRIR on 26.11.63 JR RPF T/c Lucknow which was taken, along with other colleagues, wherein the name of petitioner's husband (Hukam Singh) is clearly mentioned.

12. She submitted that even a document has been placed by the petitioner on record from the register entry at Sr. no. 116 thereof (Annexure-C) shows that the record relating to petitioner's husband seems to have been weeded out. She submitted that if the respondents have weeded out the record, including Service Record of the petitioner’s husband, she cannot be made to suffer and her legitimate right of getting family pension from the respondents cannot be denied.

13. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record.

14. So far as the reason for denying the petitioner's right for claiming family pension from RPF vide letter of communication dated 03.10.2018 is concerned, the same is clearly in the teeth of the office memorandums dated 16.01.2013 and 17.01.2013. Because the office memorandum dated 17.01.2013, particularly para no. 2 & 3 thereof, clearly postulates that the dependents or next of kin (NOK) of the government servant, who has served the Government or Other Corporation after having retired from Military Service with pension, are entitled for dual pension.

15. If the interpretation is given by the respondents is upheld, it will give rise to two class, without any intelligible criteria- the personnel who have retired prior to 12.01.2013 and those who retired after 12.01.2013. The dependents of the personnel retiring from other services after 17.01.2013 would get due family pension while the dependants of those who retired on or before 17.01.2013 will be deprived of such benefits. When the office memorandum does not create any distinction, the respondents cannot do so.