IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.N.RAVINDRAN MONDAY, THE 14TH DECEMBER 2009 / 23RD AGRAHAYANA 1931 WP(C).No. 35964 of 2009(M) -------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- SMT. KUMIZHI PUTHENVEETTIL CHERIYAKUTTY AMMA, W/O. LATE EDAKLAVAN KRISHNAN NAMBIAR, PAYYANNOR.P.O., KANNUR DISTRICT. BY ADV. SRI.M.A.FIROZ SRI.V.C.JAMES RESPONDENT(S): --------------- 1. THE UNION OF INDIA REP. BY ITS SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (FFP DIVISION) LOK NAYAK BHAVAN, KHAN MARKET, NEW DELHI. 2. THE STATE OF KERALA, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY TO GOVERNMNT, GENERAL ADMINISTRATION (FFP.A.) DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 3. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, KANNUR. R1 BY ADV. SRI.T.P.M.IBRAHIM KHAN,ASST.S.G OF INDIA R2 & R3 BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.P.NARAYANAN THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 14/12/2009, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: P.N.RAVINDRAN, J ------------------- W.P.(C).35964/2009 -------------------- Dated this the 14th day of December, 2009 JUDGMENT The petitioner is the wife of a freedom fighter. She submitted an application dated 5.4.1998 seeking payment of Central Freedom Fighters' Pension. The District Collector, Kannur after enquiry, forwarded the application to the Commissioner and Secretary to Government, General Administration (FFP) Department, Thiruvananthapuram recommending grant of pension. The State Government thereupon forwarded the application to the Secretary to Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs for grant of freedom fighters' pension. The grievance voiced by the petitioner is that though more than a decade has passed after she applied for Central Freedom Fighters' Pension, till date, orders have not been passed in the matter. She submits that as she is receiving State Freedom Fighters' Pension and the State Government have recommended grant of Central Freedom Fighters' Pension to her, the Government of W.P.(C).35964/09 2 India are bound to sanction payment of Central Freedom Fighters' Pension to her with effect from the date of application. The petitioner, who is aged 78 years, seeks a direction to the first respondent to consider her application for Central Freedom Fighters' Pension and to grant pension to her without delay. 2. The petitioner is aged 78 years. More than 11 years have passed after the petitioner applied for payment of Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension, I am, therefore, of the opinion that the first respondent should pass expeditious orders on her application for Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension. I accordingly dispose of this writ petition with a direction to the first respondent to pass orders on the application submitted by the petitioner for Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension, that was forwarded by the State of Kerala, if as on today orders have not been passed thereon, within two months from the date on which the petitioner furnishes a certified copy of the judgment along with a copy of the writ petition to the Secretary to Government of India, Ministry of Home W.P.(C).35964/09 3 Affairs, Freedom Fighters' Division, New Delhi. The first respondent shall after orders are passed on the petitioner's application, or if orders have already been passed, communicate a copy thereof to the petitioner and the State Government at the earliest. Sd/- P.N.RAVINDRAN, Judge mrcs //true copy// P.A. to Judge.