The Punjab and Haryana High Court has finally given relief to an 80-year-old widow who has been trying for almost five decades to get her family pension and other benefits from the government. Her husband, who worked in the Haryana electricity department, died in 1974, but she never received the pension that she was entitled to. The court noted that she is illiterate, very old, and has lived in poverty for many years while fighting this long battle.
Justice Harpreet Singh Brar passed the order on November 14 and directed the Haryana government to personally check her case and make sure she gets all the benefits that are legally due to her. The court said that the government official concerned should examine the facts within two months and release the pension and other benefits without further delay.
The high court said that constitutional courts have a very important duty: to protect the rights of the poorest and most helpless people in society. Justice Brar wrote in the order that the courts must ensure that the promise of social, economic, and political justice reaches everyone, especially those who do not have the power or resources to fight for themselves.
The judge explained that the Preamble of the Constitution promises justice to all citizens, and this includes people who are old, poor, or unable to take legal action easily. When such people do not have a voice, it becomes the responsibility of the courts to stand up for them so that their rights are not lost or ignored.
Justice Brar said that helping an 80-year-old widow who has no support is not just a matter of kindness—it is a constitutional duty. The order stated clearly that Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution require the government and the courts to protect every citizen’s dignity and rights.
The court also noted that whenever courts fail to protect the weakest people, the promise of the Constitution becomes weaker. But when courts defend such people, the true spirit of the Constitution shines brightly. This is what makes India a nation built on fairness and equality.
ALSO READ: A simple daily breathing test can reveal early signs of lung trouble
ALSO READ: New strategies aim to reshape global tech growth and future manufacturing
The widow’s name is Laxmi Devi. Her husband, Maha Singh, worked as a lineman in the Haryana electricity department. He joined the department in 1955 and worked there for many years. Unfortunately, he died on January 5, 1974 while on duty as a sub-station officer in Ballabgarh.
After his death, Laxmi Devi received a small ex-gratia amount of ₹6,026. But she never received her family pension, gratuity, or leave salary, even though she was eligible for these benefits. Her lawyer told the court that she made several requests to the electricity department, but nothing was done.
In 2005, she filed her first writ petition in the high court. The court asked the authorities to look into her case. But even after that, officials kept passing the file from one department to another, giving excuses such as “old records not available.” No actual relief was given to her.
She kept writing letters, filing representations, and even submitted an RTI application in recent years. But the departments continued to delay and did not resolve the matter.
Her life became even more difficult in 2007 when her son separated from her and moved away. With no financial support, she had to depend on neighbours and later on her married daughter. Over time, her health worsened. She became seriously ill and was even paralysed in 2015. Despite all this suffering, she continued her fight for justice.
Her lawyer told the court that the case showed a sad picture of how some government departments ignore the rights of poor and helpless people. Laxmi Devi, already suffering due to her husband’s death, had to carry the painful burden of poverty and neglect for decades.
The court agreed with this view. Justice Brar observed that the case clearly reflected “administrative apathy” and “systemic indifference.” The court said that this is the unfortunate truth in many such cases—people who need justice the most are often those who struggle the hardest to get it.
The high court said that Laxmi Devi was left with no other option but to come back to court again, even though she had already filed a case many years earlier. The system failed to help her, so she had no choice but to seek the court’s protection once more.
Justice Brar said it is painful that she had to suffer for nearly 50 years to claim what was rightfully hers. Such delays harm the dignity of a person and go against the principles of justice that the Constitution stands for.
In the end, the court ordered the Haryana government to take urgent action. The principal secretary or the senior-most officer of the electricity department must personally verify her claims and ensure that all legal benefits—family pension, gratuity, and other dues—are released as quickly as possible.
The judgment is a reminder that justice delayed is justice denied. But in Laxmi Devi’s case, the court’s intervention has finally brought hope and relief after a struggle that lasted half a century.
Copyright © © 2022 Copyright. All Rights Reserved with Arth Parkash