Katanquru Chrlukamma W/o Late Kalanguru N.arasimha Reddy ^Aged v. ndia, Ministry of Home Affairs

Order

['etit ion cr Resl'lonclen t s L('tter dated 06.O9.2024 rejecting petttioner's claim lor 1;cnsron is assatlecl in this Writ Petition on the groutld th'rt it viol.rt,. lhr JtLLlglllenl ul lhis Cuurl in Writ Petrtion No' 'lll trl 2O21. clrLtcd l).1'2.20)3 ilnd is contrary to the larv laid rlo"rtr b-1' tlre Hon'ble Suprcmc Court in Gurdial Singh u' Union oJ Indial . u'hich tnarnd.ates a liberal and non-technical upproach while <'onsiderlng clalms uncler the Swatantra Sainik Sanman Peusiotr Scheme. Pctitioner claims to be the rvidow and depcndcnt of 2. Late Katanguru Narasimha Reddy, who participatcd in (2001) 8 scc 8 l I1."rier:rbzrcl Liber-:rtion moverncnt cluring 1' ()8.1947 1t) I 7 0!). l !)48. Shc sct ks f :rnrih' pension undcr- l,r Si,\ atalllra SlLirrili S:L:tiir,rr f'r'nslirtt S,-:hi r,-ic, 19S0 (lor sl-rot r. ll-ri )ir:hcrnc ) It rs st.itc(l tlir' (iovi'rllrr)cnl .)i lnclia rcc:ognrserl H '. 11<'r:rbad [-i]rcration Str r rqglc ar1:rinsl \ izlrrn's lltrlc as palr r I thL frcecloru rrr)\ enl('r)t irr(l e\lirnilcd lirr' l)crrsirin Sr'henrr: l() I Ir.l] tlcil)Jnts anrl conslrt.lt, rl :r S1;r'ci:rl Si recrtirre Corlmittr'r : (lj.1O. 19il3

trrrrter tlrc c:lrrirrr:rnslrip ot Sri G.NI. Shrolf. 'l I (' C'r)mmrtt.e irlerrri|r'd ()S lror-rier (:rmps. inclLrclirrg 41 in T' i nsarr:1, 37 in ivirr'.,Ltliri,itii r .rrrci 20 irr ii.rr ii:ilttkzr. exarrrirLeci rltortt 2I ,000 cases :ln(l rr (orrlr.ir(lralLd nt'arlt' 7.000 cases 21 Pt'titionrr's htrslr;rncl is st:rted lo hlr pal-ticipatcd in (lt-randa ('rrrnp heacled lx \'lr. K.V. Narsing i. r foi- a pcriod exceecling s 1-\ rTronIhs, trorvevcr, his case r'"::: no1 initiallv inclrrdccl .rr1o1rg thc recournrenclecl cases. Latlr. iirllor.ving the rel)rescnt.ltions rcgar-cling onrission oI eligible lr :',:lcrm fighters, the Sc rcerrrrrrg Cornrrrittcc u,as r-econstittttcd cvc:nl tirr-res, includi ng )\ lrrot ccrlrr-rgs ti;ited .10.08.1990 rrr :: 1,-.I2.1996 urider the chairmanship oI Sr i N. Giri Prasad arr .rgain in 1997, undcr tht' r'lrairnr:rnship ol Sri Ch. Rajeshr zrr llao- The Committec chairccl by Sri Ch. Rajeshwar I ro conducted cxtensive rlelibera[ions for over one ,year, undc I [ ),]k field visits along ',vith tllc Dcl)ut_\, Secretary, Home Affair,.. iovernment of lndia, and coilected A, B, C atld D Fornrs from recomnlendecl candiclales to t'rpcclLtc satlction of penston. Petitioncr's hr-tsband Iracl srrbrrittcd his aplthcatiotr for pensiott o r-r O4 08. 1 987 Iliscd ort the rt'co mmetld.rtions of thc last 2 2.. Scrccirirrg Corutltittct:.,'\pplicatrons s'cre scrutit'riscd bv thc Ilcvcurtc Divisiort:Ll C)illccr arld tl're District Collector, ancl r'r cre lonvarrlccl throuql'r thc Ciovcrnment ol Anclhra Pradesh to thc: Depurv Secrer:irv, NIrLlrstry ol Home Affairs The Central Governrnetrt rssLrt'cl D.O No- 112 5/Misc98-FF(HC) Vol-lll. clated O5.07. jOOO tu tilc G()!'crriirrerrt oi Anciiira Pr-adesir enciusirig a list ol 21 persotrs lonverrded bv Shri K.V. Keshavulu, tormer rnernbcr ol N. Giri Prasad Comrnittee anct Ch Rajeshrvar Ilao Comrnittec, sceking veriflcation and entitlement reports The narne oi Late Kat a n€auru Narasitnha Reddy appeare d in thc said list. Thert:a[1t'r, thc llr:r'cnue Divisionltl Officer, by letter dated 22.12.2OO l. rt:ccrtttmc uclcd petitioncr's husband as a frccdonr fightcr to thc District Collcctor, Walangal, after completing verificntion- Thc District Collector, Warangal, after additional verification, addrcssed lctter Rc.No.C5l92 l2OO2 dated 2002 to thc Govcrnmcnt of Anclhra Pradesh recommending petitioner's husband for grant of freedom hghters' pension' 2 .3. Dcspite thcse rccommendations, pctitioner's husband dtd not receive pension during his liletime and passed + ar\ri1v in 2O02. Follou'ing litigation concr:rning per ( lng c:[aims of fre'r'dom fiqirrcrs, Respondent No.1 issr-tt'd [,r:t1r'r i o. I I2/5/98 fF{llCl E rl-,r,cl -lO(l.l grantinq pi-'rtsion lo I)('t lon('r .ls ll)e rr" iclorr, of i-:ri,.' [{lrlrrrgrtrtt N:tr':tsnrhlr Rcdcil l nd dirt-'ctir',g Rcsoorrrlenl No..'j ro rcli':rsr' 1r'nsion. 'l ]'t :rc k norr'1eclg,:cl clerrrh of pclrlioncr's hrtsbut.tcl r I r',rcogt-tisrcl It ttct zrlso pe titiorler ;rs cliqilrll bt'trel-i,:iary, lro,.vcver, l)( a r Iln u'as II()t rek.asecl, corngrcliirrrl pclrtioner to sul,r I repeatecl represental ols, inclLrcling orrc rn Febr'.rury' 20l9

2.1 Srrl-rslrittIrltli'- R('sir(rnri(.ari .'r:o.I issti, r [,r- iei. ciatt:c] 29 04.2O19 rr'lccting l)etrtioncr's clairn on the !r-o tLrcls that her husband's nrrnrc dicl r-tot al)lleirr irr the corrilrrr r riscd Iist of recomrrrencle.l cast's :rnd thal pension had not r' l sanclioned during his lrti:tirric, rt:ndering hcr rtreiigible unc t r p:rra 1.5 of the Revisecl Irolir:r Crricle Iincs clrrtecl 06.OE.201 I Agrgr revccl I;r, the sai<l rc'tcc'l it.l'r, pctitioncr filecl \\'rrt l)ctrtLon \r.3.1;r of 'l02l, rvhcrein br ordr:r rlatcd 1a.12.2O23, rc.iecli ) r lcrlcr d:rtcd

29.O4-2O19 niis sct asidc and fl:spondcnt No.1 .' irs rlirectcd to reconsider her case ilulv considerinq the I?DO's recommenrlation datcd 22.12.2OO1. the Dist -:t Oollector's recommen(lation maclr: in 2002, all matcrial orr ccord, and to pass a re:Lsoncd order aftcr affording pcrs,r r rl hearing to petitioner u'ithin lour rveeks. Despite, Responclr r I No.1 issued f Ietters dated 21.O2.2A2+ and 13.03.2024 reitcrating that pension could tror bt: s:trtctiouccl posthunrously sincc it $'as not slurctionccl clur-in3 tlrc lrl'r'itnre ol thr: freeclrlm fightcr.

2.5. Al1t-giLrg rr iLiLrl clisobcdience, petitioncr flled Contenipt C:rst' \ct. 5l7 ol 202-1: durirlg thc s:ricl 1;rot:eeclirlgs' Rcsyrorrclirrtt Nrr. I rr'itltclt'c'rv lcttirl-s datccl '21 O) 2024 ancl

13.03 2024 b,\' l( tter clari cl O5.08.2024 antl ciirectecl petitioner to al)pear in pcrsotr orr lO.Oti.20f'1 before the FFR Divrsion, N!LnisTr-r' ol I{otnt: Altairs, Nt)CC It Builcling, Jai Singh Road, i.it ii, [)eiiri. Petrii,.,ilt.r iilri]( a.t(i ars direated, horn'ever-, r'l'ithirr a short spertr, Iiespor-rclettl \io I issr-tccl the Lrnpugned I.etter dated

06.O9.2024 ag:rin rc'.lccLlr-rg hcr claim, raising grouncls u'hich, accorcling to pctitionel. were either alrcady considered and re jected b1' tl-ris Cout t in its juclgrncnt datcd 1 5-12.2023 or were raised as alte rthoughts.

2.(t. Iu (,'ot'rtct'npr Casc No 517 o[ 2024' this Court by orcler clatt--d 25. lO.2O2 I gt ritrtetl Lilrcrtl' to petitioner to submit a rcl)rescnl.rtiolt to licsilolld(lnt No.-l - Principal Secrctary to the Stzlte Governmerlt, Rcvcnue Depzrrtment, for forwarding and recommcnding Lhe namc of Latc K.rtanguru Narasimha Reddy to thc Governmet-rt of Inclia Pursuant to the liberty granted, petitioner submitted rcprcscntation dated 29'10'2024' Rcspondent No4, b1' Ietter dated 09.17.2024' instead of 6 fr;r1'r rcling',1)a rcc()rrnrcl-IdiLtion, dirt'ctecl petitri): r : - t'r .;nltntit a tr.sli reprcs,'ntatrort rr ith yrrOOI- of discrt'1,lanr:ies r r ri :rl OLrt lt,r' thr' \'linistn ol Hontr' ,\lfatr s. r.r'hile recor-dinq th:rL Itc.r ltusband hrrri bcen relotrtrlenrlctl :rs far lrar:k ats in 2O02. ). | 'l irc: r:orrLcnrpt [)r()('('e(lings rYr'rc- rlislt ,: ,:l Ot [;r ord<'r ariLilalrle ulrlr:r lau, lgrrinsl thr' 1;rocccrlrngs clrr' O(:.oL)'2O2f . P( tltroner tontcncls llrat inrl;r-rlnt,d re-jectirl ieticr cl:rted O{., ().) 2O2,+ rctteralcrl tlte reusOrrs \\,1)lch \\,r'le r e lrrlr r-i'ir.cterl bi ti-Lis Co-Lrii ir-r its r-,rcii.r'r.i.rteci i5.i2.202j.

3. ln the coltnter lllecl ort behall- of Res I I rclr:nts 1 to 3, t1 is slated, the case of laLe Shr i Ka{anguri Nars r I t:i llecldy rvas ittilialh exnrr',ined Lutder Ihi, applicable 3 rr r.lincs drrtecl O1.12.2OO2, ancl dLlring sllch examinatior Lclcrrliflcation docurrr.nts u ere called for br thc N4inistrr. ,i(7( , ,ltrllrLLlticlltion dated 19.02 10O3. tlcfore thc proccss could rer, r Ihrrlitr'. ttrc said Narsinrlia Rcdrli. cxpired on 02.01 .2OO2. I licre.t[ter. his s'iclot' i c. Pctitionr:r subntif tcd docLrntents ', i 2!1.0.1.')OO3 set'king pensionatl bencfits in her capacit-r, :'pe::rlcnt. On scrutiny o[ i]rr: off-rcilrl rccords, it was obscn ed ] r 1 the narne of latc Shri Narsimha Reddv did ltot appear in th. r:o ntpr-r terized Iist o1- frccdom fighter pension cascs reconrrrr nclc,cl by thc Flvderabacl Specral Screening Comntittee anr there is a c-onfusion rvith thc mailt ftlc tlerlaining to another claimant. In view ol ti-rcse (liscrepallcics, cl:lriflcatiolt wzlS souslht fronr thc State Govcrnnrent; hou'cver, Ito rcporl or conlirnlation $ras rcccivr:d from tire Statc ar-rthoritics.

3. 1 . It is lLrrthcr stiltcd. l)ctitionc'r did not pursll. thc rnatter or rnal<r' ant' rcpr('scrltitl ron for lt llrolorrgcd period of rrc:rrl-v sr:r'r.'r-rt('( u vears bt'tr,vcett 2OOll ltncl 2O I9. During this intenrening pcriocl, thc Got'crnmt'trt of II.rdia issuecl the Revised Polic5,' Gtriclelirtes datecl 0(r.Oll.20 I 4 govr'rning the Swatantrata Sairlik S.iiri l.riL Peilsioii Scllcrlrr. i98'i. Para i 5 exprcssig prouidcs that no pension s|rctll b,' sunctLoned in the name of a freeclom fiqhLer ttftc r his or her clertllt., eucn if tl'te cLoirn. utas tLnder examinalion at thc tinle of tlcatlt Rcspondcnts relv upon this provision as an exl)ress statutor\ l):tr-

3.2.onreceipt'iifpttitirlr.rer'sreprCSentationin2o|9, the Miurstrl' rejected her claim t'rric order dated 29.04 2019 strictl-r' in accordance rvith thc Ilcvrsed Guidelines dated

06.08.201'+. Aggrrt:ved tht:reby, shc filcd Writ Petition No.3'15 of 2O2 I rvl-rich was disposed of on 1 5 12.2023 with a dircction to reconsider the case aftcr taking into account the recommenclations of the Distrlct authoritics and after afforcling an opportunity of personal heaLring ln compliance with the said orcler, responclents reconsiderecl the matter and passed the or(lL'r drrt('d 1) 03 2021 reitcratir)g t)rat pensiorr ll r,.1 r.r'r'e r l>ccn sanctionecl clLrrinq tht'lifetirrre oi' i:rtc Shri Katlu r Lrn .i:rrsirtrltii Rcclri_r., tltclllirrc. clcpendcnt lirmilr. ltensior] . rLl[(l n()t ]re gr iultt'cl . Sub:,r'qr-rcntlt , pctitioncl filcd Contcmp - r st ]iio.5 l 7 ol' 'r0l.r. Irr tltc .,:ri<l colttcntpt l)ro(.( cdinas. offlccr.:. - ' rh \Iirristrv ,rf Horrre .\ltrrrrs personall-r. appclrrecl bclorc L rc ( oLrrt orr OS 08.2021. l)ursuant to the cltrcctions of the ( () l L, ir tcltrn ol- oil-icials visttcrl pelitiolter's r(,si.lor1ce at Hydera r r l. r',.rillt,<l tlte clocrrnrcnts lr:rrl:rble rvilh lrer. errrcl :rlfttrcled l, r I r;r,r sorrrrI lie.rr iiL;,,. ii rr,,s tr;unci dui-ing sLicir i,ciiilcaiioti it .ti lr() 1la,\1 ()r corrr:lusive cl()( Lllne nts were pro(lLlcecl bt:yond ,.r i i t $.lrs alreaclr.. on rcco rd 33 \Jlt:r considering thc enlire adrrint r';tli,t. icr.orrl. thc ver':fir::rtioil report, and the applicablc polic.. ! rrit[clines, thc Iv[irristrr prrJscd-:i-clitailed sReakihc order drrt I 0rr.09..r024 rclr'cting tlt,. r'Iairl ol petitioner-. Rcs;rondr.nt: , r:t1te,; sulrnrit thlrt inLcnrai 1i1e notlngs, corresponclence r)r (l aLfl proltosals callrnot conl-er lrny cnfilrccable right unk:ss a finirl :u_.ctiort ordc,r dulv approved ancl authenticated by the cotnpcrr. I irllthoritlr is issued. In the prcsent case, no such final sarr t c)n ordcr q,as cvcr- issueci in far,,ortr of late Shri Katangr_rri ) I r ;intha Recicly, and therelirt r: no vested right .tccrued eithe, o hirrr or to I)etltioner. 9

3.4. It rs rr:iterated that under the Sr,r,,:rtan t rata Sainik Sarmman l)cnsron Schcinr--, 19S0. the brrr-den ol- prool lics squarelr' on the cl:LirnrLnt to cstarblish cligibility through aclmissibk: docnrrt'nt:rn' r'r.iclcncc verifi cci lLncl rccornmcndcd by thc State Govcrrlrnc'nt. Irelitioncr. rlcsJritc opportlrnitie s. lailccl to 1;roclucc :rn): ne\\' ot conclusivt: cviclt ricc to o\'arrcotne th(' matcrial cllscrcpancies nc.rtccl in thc oflicial rccorcl.

3.5. Resporrclents state th:1t jr-rclicial rcvir,'rr,, in sLrch matters is limired to exatnining thc' clcciston-rrt:rl<tng proccss and noi tl-re merits oi iire.iecisioi-r ir-st:ii. iii ii-rt pttst'tit case, the process is asserted to bc lar'vful, 1:tir, proportionate, atrd in strict compliance rvith policr'. lt is fr-rrthcr contcndod that the cligibilitv p::ll.l""t undcr the Pension Schcrne arc slatutory in character and cannot be cxpanded thror-rgh judicial i nterventib-n.-Giant -of relic I eonlra r-v to t he St:hc mc rvould-ieS u1t rn errbitrary extension of l;cnefits arrd ,.'iolales the principlc of rrniformity among sinlilarLy sitltirtecl cl:rinrzrnts. Petitioner's reli:Lnce on Gurdial Singh's casc was denicd contcnding that subsequent judgrnents ol the t{on'ble Sttpremc Court have clarihed strict document-btrsed nature of thc Scheme. It is also clenied that any pension u,as sanctioned rn 20O3 or at any point cluring the lifetimc of Iate Shri Katanguri Narsimha Redd1,. It is l0 reilcrartcd tlrrl nrcrc irrcltrsion ol-a nanre in co :. jpondence ()r 1r1-r,ri.rir,|).rl l: , ,1,'*. t:,,1 .rnr()unl lO s.rrr Iiorr. 3 (r. ll,'rs1>onclt'nts ;rlso clcny alie gations r I f;tLt L:rrrr:r:rrir' dela-r'rLrrcl :,s:r( rt llltil cir:lay is altribLrtal)le tr> pr,r' , ncr's silc'ncc rtcitrlt ic\,(-nl.r'Lt vcirrs arld :rbscn, , ol vi,r ifir'ci rlocLlrnt nlr-:,,r. lt is di:rried th:rt petitloner \,. t. i'olli)eil('cl ta) pRrrlnCc Lll]irr'( €rss:rr\'(tocunlcnts; thr: rt'quit-ent, i; {lroi(' (iLte lo cliscreparrcri': 'rnd l.'rcl< of vcr ifrc:rtion. It is stat.. I Iettcrs rlatr'<l

21.02.2Or.1 rrrrl 13 03.2024 mr:relv reiterittcrl r re rrolicv brl riir(lei i'.rrir i 5 oi tl-r( Rcviseci Giiide iit-res ,jate,.i ( r .0ij. j0lj arrri \\,e l-e rl()t irr rirsoLrcclicncc of the Court s orcler I1 t rr',:all lettcr clzrted O5.OJ.-l()2.1 s,as issued or-rly to lacilitztte p . s orr:rl hr::rrin! rn conrplierncr' ,r'itlr jrrclicial directions. The imp.rr lcd ()rdcl' rr,as l)asse(l Ilas('rl ()11 frcslt VerifiCation, absence of r r o11-11.111.1161111i611 -in 1hi c-orrii)rii-fizcd Hyde-rabacl SpeCial Scietr iig-Corilriritlc;ir- - list. cliscrepl:rcics in rccords, prolonged dcla_v.:r (l thc cxllress Iloli(;,!'I)ar.

3.7 i. rs :rdnrirted that Contempt Case u r; ciisposcd ol- on 09.l2.2Olrl granting liberty to petitioner to 1r rsue :eurcclics in accordrrni:r' u,ith larv, rvhich according r( resjpondents estabhshes that thcrc was no contempt or vrr lition on their part. I1 is flnrLll_v st:rted, in the absence of rr i rmmendation, absoncc ol- srrnction order and the statutorr llLr urrdel the II Rcviscd Gurdelines, petitioner is not entitled to clependcnt larnil-r' pension :rnd the impugrlcd order \\'arrants no in tc rfe rcnce.

1. Sri Avrnasl-t Dcsai, lcirrtlcd Scnror.Cotlttscl on behalf of Sri TPS Harsh:r, Ieartrctl couttsi-l ft)r p('titlon('r arguillg on lhe slunc lLncs lnerttiotrecl in l.'rit atlcl t tlotnclcr, placcs rcliatrce on thr: juclqrrrr:rrts ol the Hon ble Supt crtre Coltt t in Gurdial Singh u. (Jnion of India (supra). Mukund Lal Bhandari u. Union of India2, :rnc[ Uttim La.l Singh u. Union of India3. to collterld tli.it oriac State authoriiies ancl >(li:eerrinsa colllaLlirtiees l-rirve rccommended a claim, a liberal atlci nolt-lledantic approach is required. lt is argued that penslon n-rust I;e gratrted lrorr lhe clale of Altplication and respondellls cannol seek lerificalion oI dr)curnents again and aga ln. -'Senior toLlhSEI- -ti1 SO CO eirdea - thaf--' rccommendations in fetvotlr of petitioner's husband rvere m:rde clrrrirrg 1998 to 2OO3, and despite verillcation, re rccommcnd:rtion, and dtrcctions of this Court to considcr the claim or-t the basis of re-vcrification reports, rcspondct-tts continued to raise one ground or the other to deny pension lt is I lqgl Supp (l)S(lC 2 'loli sCC ( )DlincDel ?l1l l all<'gr:rl that :j,'\,('ral cl,rscn:iltg lrcedom fightcr. I cd au aiting l)('rrsloir an(1 r! sJ)()rt(JIDts collalrl( f rcflects clelilrt: , c rl,'l:rr.

5. Sr'1 t3. \:rrsrntlra Sharma, Ieur l I ,\clrlrtional Sr>licrlor' (icnclal reli(,s ()lt thc jLrrlqment of thc F:, r 'blc SLrplc.n'rc, C'oLlt rn Jagdarnba Deui u. Union of India att: i)nl('n(ls tltirl lht l\'rtsion Sr.lrcnrt', l9S0 is slrlctLy a docllm( rLl ).rs(,([ s(.]la'rrte arrcl tlr:rt tltc rlcscrilrr.cl clricr.trrtr.rrts must be pr,trl r::e rl vlril-iccL. ancl rec'olrtnrCndt rl br tit(' Stalle (lovernrnent C()11, r I n.r.l IIr. :rlso r-c liccl on Union of India u. A. Ala.gam Perun t / I(one lr(tir,il Ayrpeal No.65(.) oi- 202 i , rvite; uin tl-re LIon'bit I pr criie Coiri t c.rlcgoric::rlh I:cicl that lrnless the cligibility cnr ia unclc,r the scl)r'nrc are iLritillt'cl, no:rpplicant can claim pens r ri :is a nl:tttcr ol rrglrt. IirLitlrer reliancc is placed on Stote 7f Himachat Pradesh u. Smt. JafTi Devia, to contend tlt I s-r,tuprrthr:tic CO1)S itlr;i7Tior- s ce t-rnrrt ovcrriclc express p ICJ' '\rISlons evelt trncler lrenr'fir'rrrl schcrrLes

6. 'l'ltr: issuc in tl-rc prcsent Writ Petitrr,: is not :rbotrt partrcllratiorr rrf L:rte Kattrnqlrru Narasimha Redd, rn Il-r'di:r:rb:rd Libcratron \'lor.etnent, br-tt r",",hether thc statut I .r' at-rcl ,olii;v rcquirements gov()rniltg the Pcnsion Scheme str,r cl satishcd so as 1o confcr e lcgarllv cnlorccablc right upon petit' )ner lor grant of rlcperrdcrrt :rrmrJv pcns jop ' 1997 (5) SCC] 301 t3

7. It is not in dispute that Late Katanguru Narasintha llccidl' cxprrcd on O2.O i.20O2. It is trlso not tn dtsputc that ncr finirl pr:nsioL-r s:rrtction ordr:r, dull ltpproved and aLlthenticiitcd frl tht' c:onrpetenl atlrthor it\- of tlttt Ciovcrtltttt:nt ol Indi.r. n lrs rssLrerl ir lris ftrvottr clurirrg his lili'tirnc Tltc etttirc clttittt of J)('tition(-'r rcsts Llpon t-ccotttniettclattotts. col t csprtllcletlt t', r i'r rflcariorr r eporl s, arrcl provisional t'omItlttttit'lttioIls erllc tt.r t it il fr om tlrc State Authorities ancl Scl'eening Comnrittees \\'ltile slrc'h nr:rier-i:rl, rtndorrbtedl\', demotlstrat('s th:rt tlrt' cl:rinl rrirs examined :rt varriotts stages, settl('(l lart makcs tt clcerr lllrrt r < comrnerrclzrtions or internal corresl)oncte llce clo uor arnol-lllt to s:rnction ancl do not create a vested or acc:rued light in the at>scnce ol a final order of sanction. 8 'fhe Srvatantrata Sainrk Santrlan Penston Schetlte, ---1980 ra h po1ic1' Sc eme gove ined-S rl ct11.--by rts -eligibitit,v conditions zrnd grridclines. Thc Hon'ble Srtprcme Court in lhr: jrrclgmcrrts to Jagdarnba Devi and A. Alagatn Peruntal Kone cases (supra), has catcgor:ically held t hat the Schemc is documcnt l;ased and that the burdcn of cstablishing eligibiltty squarel-v lics on the claimant. The Apex Court has further hcld th:rt unless thc prescribcd documentary requirements are satisfied and a sanction is granted in accordance with tl-re Scheme. no ciaim can be sustained as a matter of rlght. 1,+ !). 'l lrr Reviscd Policv Guidclrnes darr - O6.0S :lo 14. t lricir ir:e : :rr lL rrlrle tr, rLndcciclt.cl and lter-rclinq Linr;. c,,nt.un PrLr-a I ..'. r, l,r, h crprcssl\' ProvLrlcs th:lt 'rro 7,r, .lon sltrttl ltc -srrnctiolcd i7r Jj11 11117711' of a fi.<,t'rlrttn fi!Jltlcr (Lfter l,' ot l,.e r rlt'cLth. c'L'cn rl tlLc Li.,,ttL tt'r.L:; ttntlt'r i,-Lrirrrirraliorr ot tht' tru ctJ tlt rrtlt' -lltis provisrol rs < ]c-':rr, un:irtthirlrtotts :tnd rlranc'rr r-,v rt n rlLIr(-. Onr-r: strch r policv bar oD(.1:ltcs, nr:ither , rlntiLrisLr:ttirrr. aruthor.ili('s rrr,r corrslilLrtiorr:rl CoLn-ts cirn c.lirect i, rrt of J;ension C()lltrlll\, to ilte e\l)lCsS tc'rnls of tlre Sch| r e. I3crtcllci:rl sr:lremcs. tlroLre-lr cl€ts('r\'rns Iiltr-r'al utterptetar l) i, ('itnuol b(' admllrisl cr('( l r rr rlcrogrrl ion ol- rht n gover-ning pro, t .;Lor-rs. 1O. I I rlrc. rejr;incler. oetrtioner reiter.r., relrancr' on Gurdial Singh, Mukund Lo.I Bhandari and Utt ;t Lal Singh's Lrases lsr.rpr:r contendir-rg that ;r libcral appr r Lr:h musl bc - dilolrtril rihd lhat Para.15-c:rrrnrjine .i DFliad t,r I er r:ase. C contcntiol-r 1l):i1 I'alr 1 .5 sL:rrrcls t:onclttdcrl tr favollr of pctitioncr bllrc ordcr dated 15.12.2O2.) in Wrlr I ',ition No..l.t5 ol 2O2l canrrol bc arcr:cpted. A c:rrcful reading ,rl hc said or de r- rerrcals th:rt llus (lourt lrad set trside the c:rrlier ] rlection dated 29 .04.20 19 irnd dirccted reconsideration i I (-,r affor ding pcrsonill hearr.rg and considcring the material : I rer:ord. The saicl or(ler dicl not dcclare pctitioner cntitlect to 1t nsion nor did it strikc dor.r tt Para 1.5 or exempt her frorn ts operation. l5 tt'con side ratio n pursuatlt to jr"rdrcial directions does not gllarantcc :r favottral>le outcome; it onh' ellsur('s ii [a$ lul clt't:r s ion -nraki11g I) r( )ccs s. I l Tl'r e rt:corcl fitr ther dcmonstr:rtcs that l)Llrsltallr lo tlrc srricl olrlct- dalcc[ 15.I ].2023. rtlsponrlcttls rr:crtlrsiclt'recl thc' nrltter, eltbrclecl persotr:rl hearing, r'onclrtctccl on site r t r iilce,Ltron. cxarnritrecl thc available rccorcls ancl p:rssecl a cletailcd speaking order ([i]tcd 06.O9.2024, irnpugnerl in the Writ Petition. 'l'he clectsion m:rl<ins process, thcrelbrc. r--allnol be iarrlted or tl-rc grot:rtd of violation oI principlcs of nattiraljustice or non -co rn p Iiarnce lvith jucllcial directions

12. Petitiorrer's assertion thal pension was sanctioned in 2OO3 to her hltsbattd is rtot borne out bv any fltr:il sanction ordcr. l{es1'rondents har.c consistently stated that no sLLCII sariilio nlid er exists aucl -ThZT rnT-erna I corrrsi), )1ld('iac oI provisional comrnttttictrtiolls cannot be equated with sanctlon 1'hrs posrtion is supported by settled lan' that intern;LI file notings and draft proposerls do t.tot confcr enforccable rights' l.-Llrthcr, the prolongeci silence of petitioncr betweeu 2OO3 and 20 19 is also a relevant circumstance. During this intervening period, thc Revised Policy Guidelines dated O6.O8'2O14 camc into forcc, rvhich govcrn the field and bind both the authorities and the Court. l(r l:1. l*';o,rrrrlc-rr.s contcncl that pctitiorr'; :, hr-rsl;arLd's n,rmc rs not rirr':-c in tlrL r:orriprlrcrized list of r: r Ilr.dcrabad Spccrerl Scr cerirrrq (lonrrrriltec irnd di,scrcparn( r ' . rrr ri,r:orcls c:lnnot be lrilslrtcl asLrie :rs irrclc-r,zrnt. Thcs- iis<'rr,'plrnc:ics nc('essilatc(i ,,, raicrrlic,n irrrrl cilrrificatiorr. ,,'.'lricr rrccrtrding to rcsl)on(lcnt:i, ( oLll(l nol }tt' coltclusital-\.' rcs ) \ ,d. In suclt CrrCUmstan( 1.s. I Ilc Cotli t (':tltnot s].tbstitutc tts o,\ I asscssntcnt lor thal of tlre cornpet.nt authoritV, p:rrticuJirr\ rhr.n jrrclrcial revieu, is corrliuccl lo i'xanrinirrq the lcgalit)' ol tt. cler.isiorr- making pr()('('\s atrd rrot the lnerits o{- th(' i r:ision itself. Though pe tirioncr pJcaclerl that she is in zrclvernce.r Lqe, the same cannol o\rerrlilc the cxl)ress pro,.,isions o1' the il ,rnte! as \\/as held bl thc tlor-r'bk' Srrprcrne Clour-t in Sta.te t.f Himachq.l Pradesh u. Smt. Jafli Devi's that sympzrthet ic nsiderations, owever coll r pillin qJ-u notle-a-giorind to franr r'1idf cont- rary to statu to r) or policv pror,,isions.

14. In tlre light ol thc above drscLrssron. ls (lourt is of the opin ion tl-rrrt reslronrlcnts ha\'(' dcmonstratr:r1 r ritt rrnpngnecl ordcr datc(l

06.O9-20'21 rvzrs passcd aftcr duc r onsideration, verification alnd hezlring, hence, thc sanle dc,€: not \ .arrant interferr:ncr: trndcr Article 226 of thc Constitution T[rc \\'r rt [)i]:;rion is rrccor-di:rqL,r., disrnissed \o ('()\ls ir:(il)i ilti' tl . r--llillt" ,Lis A1l;r,1i lq1111,' It', s]:.,".'Ltttl , ",., c1 SD/-A. JAYASREE ISTANT REGISTRAR 5 //TRUE COPY// SECTION OFFICER To toPUCl 1 Orr,. CC to liRl IPS HAilStin 'rlvocate 2 Orr,r CC to:lRl KALVAIA SANJ|]l V' S C for Ce R NARASII,'lIIA SHAft{V]A ll Orr: CC l'r Sttl tor Revetrua llrgh CoLrrl for the State of Telarlgana at ntral Governrlent [Ot'UC ] Additional Solrcitor (leneral [oPUC] 4 Jwo CCs t'r (lP IlYLltrabad IOUTI 5 [r.vo CD Clrrles ,h, [nP HIGH COURT DATEI: :3011212025 o() k t lll SIe €, 1 1 t,;r )tliF tJf -z c)\ t ORDER WP.No ,i101 of 2025 DISMISSING THE W: IT PETITION WIT - OUT COSTS 4 9 L 1)