Cuttack: Taking serious note of official inaction, the Orissa High Court has directed the state government to disburse the long-pending freedom fighter pension to 101-year-old Brahmananda Jena within six weeks. Jena, a participant in the Quit India Movement, had been denied the pension for decades despite fulfilling all eligibility criteria under existing government guidelines.
A division bench headed by Justice Shashikant Mishra emphasized that honouring freedom fighters is not merely a moral obligation but a statutory duty of the government. Citing the state’s notification dated October 9, 2002, the court noted that all eligible applicants born before 1924 and who had applied for pension before August 27, 1990, must be granted benefits, with voter list records considered valid proof of age.
Jena had first applied for a pension under the Central Government’s Freedom Fighters Pension Scheme in 1981. While his application was forwarded by the Union Home Ministry to the state government, it yielded no response. He re-applied in 1989, and later qualified under the 2002 revised state guidelines. However, due to delays and improper verification of voter list data, his pension was never sanctioned.
It wasn’t until December 31, 2019, that the Cuttack District Election Officer submitted a report confirming that the 2002 voter list data supporting Jena’s age and eligibility was completely accurate. Despite this, no action was taken, prompting Jena to move the High Court.
The court’s directive now mandates the Odisha government to release the pension immediately, terming the delay inexcusable and a denial of rights to a man who made personal sacrifices for the country’s independence.
