Orissa High Court directs Odisha govt to grant pension with arrears to 100-year-old freedom fighter

In much relief to a centenarian freedom fighter, who was denied pension and other benefits by the State and Union Governments for want of proof of his incarceration during the struggle for freedom, the Orissa High Court on Monday ordered the release of benefits with arrears.

As per reports, Chakradhar Pradhan from Mayurbhanj had applied for a grant of the pension in 1988 claiming to have participated in the freedom movement of the country and remained underground from September 1, 1942 to October 5, 1943. He also stated to have faced imprisonment in Baripada Central Jail during 1941-42 as a political prisoner.

However, the application was rejected. Subsequently, Pradhan filed a petition in the High Court in 2013. In a counter affidavit, the State government said that to be eligible to get a pension under the 1980 scheme, a citizen must have suffered a minimum imprisonment of six months or remained underground for more than six months.

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When the High Court sought information regarding Pradhan’s imprisonment, the prison authorities replied that the information was not available in the records as it relates to more than 79 years back.

Considering the reply, Justice Sashikanta Mishra stated that it would be too much to expect the petitioner to produce clear-cut or cogent proof regarding his incarceration in jail nearly 80 years ago. 

“It is therefore, necessary that the petitioner’s claim must be considered favourably,” ruled Justice Mishra.