Orissa Pension Awarded to 101-Year-Old Freedom Fighter
Orissa HC Orders Government to Grant Freedom Fighter Pension to 101-Year-Old Man
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Bhubaneswar: the Orissa High court has directed the state government to provide the Swatantrata sainik Samman pension (freedom fighter’s pension) to a 101-year-old man, Brahmanand Jena, who first applied for the benefit in 1981. The court dismissed the government’s contention that Jena had manipulated electoral rolls to inflate his age by 10 years, deeming it a mere presumption without supporting evidence.
Court’s Stance on Government’s Allegations
Justice Sashikanta Mishra, presiding over the case, noted that the government’s argument of Jena artificially increasing his age to qualify for the pension lacked any documentary proof. “Not a shred of paper was placed before the court to justify the above stand,” Justice Mishra stated.The judge emphasized that such conclusions, drawn without even a semblance of an inquiry, are nothing more than assumptions.He further remarked, “Even otherwise, it would be too farfetched to impute such conduct to an old person.” Justice Mishra reiterated the court’s long-held view that it is indeed the state’s solemn duty to honor freedom fighters for their sacrifices in achieving independence from colonial rule. He stressed the importance of ensuring that genuine claims are not rejected on trivial grounds.
A Long Wait for Recognition
Brahmanand Jena, a resident of Nayagarh district, initially applied for the freedom fighter’s pension in February 1981, citing his involvement in the Quit India Movement of 1942. His case was forwarded by the Ministry of home Affairs to the Odisha government in May 1984, and he later made a direct application to the state’s Finance department in July 1989.
Though, his application remained pending for years. In October 2002, the Odisha government introduced a stipulation requiring freedom fighters to have applied for the pension before August 27, 1990, and to have been at least 18 years old by 1942, meaning they must have been born before 1924.
Evidence of Participation
to support his claim, Jena submitted affidavits from two fellow freedom fighters, Khali Pradhan and Manguli Parida. These affidavits attested that Jena had “remained underground for more than one year during 1942-43” due to his participation in the Quit India Movement. The authenticity of their signatures was verified by the District Treasury Officer, Nayagarh.
Despite this evidence, Jena’s application was not approved. He resubmitted his application in March 2019, but authorities continued to express skepticism regarding his age.
Government’s age Manipulation Claim
The state government’s primary argument against Jena’s pension claim was that he had manipulated his age in the 2002 voter list. They alleged that he had “managed to enhance his age by ten years” to meet the eligibility criteria.The government pointed out discrepancies in voter lists, noting that while the 2002 list showed him as 82 years old, earlier lists from 1988 and 1995 indicated he was 72. A 1999 list even suggested he would have been only 68 as of January 1, 2002.
The Orissa High Court’s ruling underscores the importance of due process and the need for concrete evidence when challenging the claims of individuals, particularly those who have contributed to the nation’s freedom struggle.