IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.2813 of 2008 Most. Rajani Bala Pradhan, wife of Late Rash Bihari Pradhan, village Khodanwari, Midnapur, at present village Kinjer, PS Kinjer, Dist. Arwal – Petitioner. Vs. 1) The Union of India through the Chief Secretary, Govt. of India, Central Secretariat, New Delhi. 2) The Under Secretary, Govt. of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, Freedom Fighter Division, Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market, New Delhi. 3) The State of Bihar through the Under Secretary, freedom Fighter Division, Home Ministry, Patna. 4) The Branch Manager, State Bank of India, Riapara, Midnapur – Respondents. 5 27.9.2011 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner, counsel for the State of Bihar and the counsel representing the Union of India Respondent no.4 is the Branch Manager of State Bank of India Riapara, Midnapur, West Bengal. The petitioner is the wife of Late Rash Bihari Pradhan who was a freedom fighter and was granted freedom fighter pension since 1972. Unfortunately at the time of submitting his paper, he could not make a nomination of his dependent. During his life time he filed an application before respondent no.4 that his wife’s name should be shown as dependent (nominee). The Union of India has filed a counter affidavit stating therein that they have already sanctioned the pension due to the petitioner. However, the Bank has taken an unreasonable stand inasmuch as they insist that the petitioner should draw her pension from the State Bank of India, Riapara branch, Midnapur, West Bengal where her late husband was receiving the benefits as a freedom fighter. 2 The petitioner being a widow, has now shifted to Jehanabad where she resides permanently. It cannot be expected that she would be able to make a trip each month to receive the pension from the State Bank of India, Riapara, Midnapur. To expect an order lady to travel so far is not only arbitrary but also unreasonable. In the circumstances of the case I see no difficulty why the State Bank of India, Riapara Branch, Midnapur cannot transfer her account to the Jehanabad Branch of the State Bank of India. It is quite permissible to transfer the account in the manner as suggested above by the court. Accordingly I direct that the Branch Manager, State Bank of India, Riapara, Midnapur, West Bengal should take all steps within a period of two months on receipt of a copy of this order to transfer the money to the State Bank of India, Jehanabad branch. The petitioner is directed to open an account in the State Bank of India, Jehanabad branch and inform the Branch Manager, State Bank of India, Riapara Branch, Midnapur with respect to account number in order to facilitate the transfer. The petitioner may also produce a copy of this order before the respondent no.4 through registered post / speed post along with her account number in order to enable him to comply with the order of this court expeditiously as indicated above. This writ petition is disposed of with the aforesaid observation and direction. haque ( Sheema Ali Khan, J .)