Maharashtra gives Rs 1 crore special grant to Major's widow, court hails move

Maharashtra gives Rs 1 crore special grant to Major’s widow, court hails move

The Maharashtra government on Wednesday informed the Bombay High Court of its decision to grant special benefits to the family of an Army Major, who was killed in the line of duty in Jammu and Kashmir four years ago.

Aakriti Sood, the widow of Major Anuj Sood, had approached the Bombay High Court seeking monetary benefits for ex-servicemen under government resolutions from 2019 and 2020.

Major Sood sacrificed his life on May 2, 2020, while rescuing civilians from terrorist hideouts and was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra.Â

Initially, the state government stated that Sood’s family did not qualify for benefits under the resolutions, which were limited to individuals born in Maharashtra or with a continuous residency of 15 years.

Responding to the court’s directive to treat Sood’s case as special and grant benefits, Advocate General Birendra Saraf informed the bench on Wednesday that the government has decided to extend financial aid to the family.Â

The government will provide Rs one crore, with Rs 60 lakh allocated to Aakriti and Rs 40 lakh to Sood’s father, along with a monthly payment of Rs 9,000 to Aakriti.

Saraf also told the court that out of the Rs 1 crore benefit that will be given to Aakrit and Chandrakant Sood, Rs 50 lakh is being given from the Chief Minister’s Welfare (Kargil) Fund.

However, the Maharashtra government stated that the decision was made following the high court order “from a sympathetic and humanitarian perspective” and it is subject to the condition that it will not be treated as a precedent and will not dilute the existing policy.Â

The bench appreciated the government’s decision and said that it has given respect to a difficult situation.

“We eagerly appreciate the stand of the State. The influence of the Advocate General was very crucial. You have given respect to the really difficult situation. It is a special case and there is always an exception,” the bench of Justices GS Kulkarni and FP Pooniwalla said.

The bench then disposed of the petition, noting that the amount shall be disbursed as expeditiously as possible.