C. Venkat Reddy & Ors vs Union Of India & Ors

The Supreme Court, in Writ Petition (C) No. 403 of 2006, held that the denial of freedom fighters' pension under the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme, 1983, without valid reasons, is unjust. The Court emphasized the need to honor genuine freedom fighters while ensuring that those with no role in the freedom struggle do not benefit from the scheme. The Court upheld the recommendations of the screening committees and directed that pensions be paid to the 22 verified claimants from April 1, 2002, reinforcing the scheme's objective to honor sacrifices made during the freedom struggle.