Retd army man exposes defence pension racket
Vaibhav Ganjapure, TNN, Nov 12, 2009, 06.35am ISTNAGPUR:
A retired Lieutenant Colonel has moved the high court here
claiming that many persons were illegally drawing pension
meant for World War-II (WW-II) veterans. The 61-year-old
Lt Col Shrikant Kane produced information obtained under
Right to Information (RTI) Act and said as many as 59
persons were being given pension in contravention of
eligibility norms for years. The amount involved may run
lakhs.
The petitioner who retired as regular officer of Indian
Army's Corps of Signals after over two decades of service
has prayed for directions to the state government to
investigate the matter and arrest the beneficiaries.
Alternatively, he demanded an enquiry by Central Bureau
of Investigation (CBI) within a stipulated period.
A division bench comprising justices Dilip Sinha and
Filomeno Reis issued notices to the respondents - state
home secretary and Ram Nagar police station officer at
Chandrapur -- on Wednesday asking them to file replies
within two weeks.
According to counsel for the petitioner,Anand Parchure,
the World War-II veterans (or their widows) who had
taken part in the battle as uniformed soldiers of Indian
Army and who retired from active service till 1949 used t
o get Rs 300 monthly pension. This benefit is being given
as per a government notification dated December 29, 1989.
It was raised to Rs 600 in January 1999 and finally to
Rs 1,275 in 2004.
These grants were provided by Director, Department of
Sainik Welfare (Maharashtra), who has to arrange payment
and subsequent accounting to the eligible persons through
Zilla Sainik Welfare offices under the respective district
collectors in the state.
Kane claimed that three persons were allegedly reaping
pensionary benefits even after being recruited at the end
of second world war- August 14, 1945 - which is contrary
to the rules. Citing reports received from Accountant General
(AG), Nagpur office, he claimed that Zilla Sainik Welfare
Office in Chandrapur had illegally paid Rs 2.18 lakh to these
three persons - one male and two widows.
The petitioner who obtained this information through RTI
pointed out this fact to the Zilla Sainik Welfare Officer in
Chandrapur. It, in turn, passed on the information to
Department of Sainik Welfare. Still, the payments to the
three persons continued.
The retired Colonel has also apprised principal secretary
and AG office about these irregularities but no cognizance
was taken. When the petitioner filed another query under
RTI about list of persons availing WW-II benefits, he learnt
that as many as 59 ineligible persons were reaping
benefits.
Earlier also, Kane had filed a civil petition in this regard
and the court had directed police to register a complaint
against such persons on September 9. Still, the government
failed to take any steps resulting in huge amounts being
paid to undeserving persons, he claimed.
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