SAVITRI DEVI vs UNION OF INDIA AND ORS

Judgment text excerpt

$~J- * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Date of Decision: 01st November, 2025 + W.P.(C) 7957/2011 SAVITRI DEVI .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Abinash Kumar Mishra and Mr. Gaurav Kumar Pandey, Advocates. versus UNION OF INDIA AND ORS .....Respondents Through: Mr. Rajesh Kumar, SPC with Mr. Yash Narain, Advocate for R-1 and R-2. None for R-3. HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANUP JAIRAM BHAMBHANI J U D G M E N T ANUP JAIRAM BHAMBHANI J. By way of the present writ petition, filed under Article 226 read with Article 227 of the Constitution of India, the petitioner impugns orders dated 11.12.2006 and 04.12.2009 passed by respondents Nos. 1 & 2 and respondent No. 3 respectively. The petitioner also seeks directions to respondents Nos. 1 and 2 to grant her pension under the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme, 1980 (‘Pension Scheme’), which grants pension to living freedom fighters and their eligible dependents. 2. Notice on the present petition was issued vidé order dated 11.11.2011, and the matter was admitted to the Regular Board vidé order dated 09.01.2013. 3. Counter-affidavits dated 12.03.2012 and 05.09.2012 have been filed on behalf of respondents Nos. 1 & 2 and 3, respectively; in response Signature Not Verified Signed By:ANJALI KAUSHIK Signing Date:13.11.2025 17:13:44 W.P.(C) 7957/2011 Page 1 of 9 to which a consolidated rejoinder affidavit dated 07.01.2023 has been filed by the petitioner. 4. Written synopses dated 15.03.2023 have been filed on behalf of the petitioner and respondents Nos. 1 and 2. PETITIONER’S SUBMISSIONS 5. Mr. Abinash Kumar Mishra, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, submits that the petitioner’s claim to pension arises from the fact that her husband - late Raghuvir Singh - participated in the freedom struggle in 1942; and, in that context,