Freedom Fighters’ Pension Not Comparable to Compassionate Employment Benefits: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court ruled that divorced daughters are entitled to receive their parents’ freedom fighters’ pension, rejecting the Centre’s contention that only unmarried, dependent daughters qualify.

Justice V. Lakshminarayanan held that the pension represents national gratitude for sacrifices made during the independence struggle and cannot be equated with compassionate appointment schemes.

Setting aside the Centre’s refusal to transfer the pension, the Court directed authorities to release it to the divorced daughter of the deceased freedom fighter, observing that entitlement flows from recognition of national service, not marital status.

[Thillai Lokanathan v. Deputy Secretary, MHA]