Chennai: Ministry of defence to pay Rs 50,000 as financial aid to WW veteran

Chennai: A 90-year-old World War-II veteran has won the heart of Regional Bench of Armed Forces Tribunal, which directed the ministry of defence and Army to pay him financial assistance of Rs 50,000.

Passing the order, the bench comprising judicial member justice S.S. Satheesachandran and administrative member Lt Gen K. Surendra Nath said the former gunner, Govinda Raju, 90, of Nammameru village, Vellore district, had served the Army during World War-II and deserves to be treated with honour and dignity and cared for at the fag end of his life.

In the petition, Raju submitted that he joined Indian Army on November 9, 1942, when he was 18. He served the Royal Indian Artillery Unit till the age of 23. By an order of Royal Indian Army Department and Records, he was discharged from service on June 12, 1947 due to reduction of forces.

He submitted that he participated in World War -II and earned several medals and decorations. In spite of being physically fit, he was discharged from service.

The counsel for the petitioner said he sent several representations to the authorities seeking pension but was not granted pensionary benefits.” The counsel sought direction to the authorities to grant him suitable pension.
In their reply, the authorities, including ministry of defence and Chief of Army Staff, Army Headquarters, New Delhi, did not dispute his enrolment in the Royal Indian Artillery Unit.

As per Pension Regulations of the Army, 1961, one has to complete 15 years of service to avail service pension. Hence, he was not eligible for service pension.

The authorities sought the tribunal to dismiss the petition for devoid of merit and substance. The bench said that a sum of '50,000 be granted as one time financial assistance to him from government or Army Headquarters Welfare Funds.