Sec.To Govt.Of India vs Sawinder Kaur & Anr

The Supreme Court addressed the eligibility criteria for the grant of freedom fighter pension under the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme, 1980, particularly in relation to ex-INA personnel. It held that the Ministry of Home Affairs circular No. 8/4/83-FF(P) allows for consideration of claims based on extreme hardships endured, even without formal imprisonment. The Court affirmed the High Court's direction for the competent authority to reconsider the application of late Gurnam Singh Dhillon, ultimately ruling in favor of granting the pension based on the established criteria.