The Supreme Court on Tuesday imposed a cost of ₹50,000 on the Centre for appealing against an Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) order granting a Liberalised Family Pension (LFP) to the widow of a soldier who died during a counter-terrorism patrol in Jammu and Kashmir.
A bench comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih criticized the Centre for dragging the widow to court, emphasizing that the decision-making authority should have been more sympathetic. “In a case like this, the respondent ought not to have been dragged to this court,” the bench observed, ordering the Centre to pay ₹50,000 in costs to the widow within two months.
The case pertains to Naik Inderjeet Singh, who suffered a cardiac arrest in extreme weather conditions while on patrol in January 2013. His death was initially classified as a “battle casualty” but was later reclassified as a “physical casualty” attributable to military service. Singh’s widow received all terminal benefits, including a special family pension, but was denied the LFP, prompting her to approach the AFT.
The AFT ruled in her favor, directing the payment of LFP along with arrears and an ex gratia lump sum amount applicable to battle casualties dying in service. The Centre and the Army challenged this order in the Supreme Court.
Dismissing the Centre’s plea, the Supreme Court upheld the AFT’s decision, reiterating that such cases require compassion. The court’s ruling highlights the importance of supporting the families of deceased soldiers and avoiding unnecessary litigation against them.
