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Synopsis

The Madras High Court recently issued a non-bailable warrant against the Additional Secretary of the Public (Political Pension) Department for failing to comply with court directions for the payment of pension arrears, spanning from 2008 to 2021, to a 97-year-old freedom fighter M. Velu from Tiruvallur district.

Justice Anita Sumanth's bench, responding to a contempt plea filed by the freedom fighter, directed the Greater Chennai Commissioner of Police to ensure the presence of Additional Secretary Anthonysamy in court on July 8.

Velu, a recipient of the state government's freedom fighter pension since 2021 for his service in Netaji Subash Chandra Bose's Indian National Army (INA), originally petitioned the high court seeking pension arrears dating back to 1987.

During proceedings in April 2022, Justice Sumanth noted discrepancies in the documentation for the application in 1987 but found a 2009 government letter referencing an application from Velu in 2008. The court concluded by instructing the state government, represented by the Additional Secretary, to settle the arrears within six weeks, with additional interest for delays.

Despite a government appeal against the decision being dismissed in June 2023, the pension arrears remained unpaid, leading to the present contempt petition. Additional Advocate General P. Kumaresan cited intentions to file a review petition alleging that apprehension is raised by the State to state that the pension is dual in nature and that the petitioner is the beneficiary of both Central and State pension, but Justice Sumanth proceeded with a non-bailable warrant against the Additional Secretary following the expiration of an extended deadline for payment.

Case Title: M. Velu v. Anthonysamy