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PETITIONER: GOVERNMENT OF INDIA REPRESENTED BYTHE SECRETARY

       Vs.

RESPONDENT: K.V. SWAMINATHAN

DATE OF JUDGMENT:       06/11/1996

BENCH: K. RAMASWAMY, G.B. PATTANAIK

ACT:

HEADNOTE:

JUDGMENT:                          O R D E R      Leave granted.      This appeal  by special  leave arises from the judgment of the  Madras High  Court made  on 14.3.1995  in  W.P.  No. 15732/94. The  respondent claimed  the benefit  as  freedom- fighter but  the same  remained pending  for  a  long  time. Ultimately, giving  the benefit  of doubt to the respondent, he was  granted pension on 18.11.1989. Not feeling satisfied with the relief, the respondent filed writ petition claiming the pension  from date  of his-application.  In the impugned order, the  High Court  has directed to pay the pension from the date  of the  application. The  controversy is no longer res  integra.   This  Court   had  considered   the   entire controversy in  Union   of India  vs. M.R.  Chelliah  Thevar [C.A. No. 7762/96) decided on April 30, 1996 and held thus :      "Heard counsel  for both  sides. On      behalf of the Union of India strong      reliance was placed on the decision      of the Division Bench of this Court      dated  24th  April,  1995.  On  the      other hand, learned counsel for the      respondent placed  reliance  on  an      earlier judgment  of this  Court in      Mukund  Lal  Bhandari  &  Ors.  vs.      Union of  India &  Ors. 1993  Supp.      (3) 2,  as well  as the decision in      Amarnath dated  19th October, 1994.      The distinction,  however, is  that      in the  case relied on by the Union      of  India,   the  respondents  were      granted  the   benefit  under   the      policy not  because it  was a clear      case  of  the  respondents    being      doubt  was   given  and  hence  the      pension  was  restricted  from  the      date of  application.  In  the  two      cases relied on by the respondents,      there  was    no  question  of  the      benefit having  been founded   on a      establish that the petitioners were

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    freedom fighters but on the liberal      ground of  giving them  the benefit      of the order. We are, therefore, of      the  opinion   that  there   is   a      distinction  between  the  decision      relied on by the learned Additional      Solicitor  general   on   decisions      relied on by the respondent. In the      instant case,  since the benefit of      doubt was  given and  the status of      freedom fighter  was recognised  on      that  basis,   the  case  would  be      covered  by   the  first  mentioned      decision  dated  24th  April,  1995      (Union of  India vs. Ganesh Chandra      Dolai & Ors.)"      In view of the above settled legal position, though the respondent was  not entitled  to the  pension as  a freedom- fighter, he  was given the relief on the basis of benefit of doubt. Therefore,  he is  entitled to  the pension only from the date  of  the  order  and  not  from  the  date  of  the application. We  are informed that pursuant to the  order of the High  Court, the  amount has  been released.  Under this circumstance, the  appellant is  directed to deduct the paid amount proportionately  from the  amount  payable  in  every month, instead of asking him to refund the amount.      The appeal is accordingly allowed. NO costs.