HC comes to rescue of widow of martyred Major

Late Major Navneet Vats,a native of Panchkula,and an alumnus of DAV College,Chandigarh,was on deputation to 32 Rashtriya Rifles,and was posted in Srinagar. Two militants had holed up in the Telecom Building,Srinagar. When sharpshooters from the Army,led by Maj Navneet Vats,stormed the building,they came under heavy fire from the hiding militants. Major Vats,along with four soldiers,was critically wounded. He succumbed to his injuries on November 20,2003 and was awarded Sena Medal. A park was dedicated to him in Panchkula Town as well.

Amar Vivek,advocate and counsel for Shivani Vats said that instead of making a provision for Shivani Vats’ rehabilitation,whom Army has termed a ‘Veer Nari’,the authorities have treated her in a totally apathetic,illegal and indifferent manner.

“It was shocking that while the authorities boast of doing so much for the families of Army personnel,who lay down their lives for the nation,after the death of her husband,Shivani was staying with her 12-year-old daughter in a state of uncertainty,under virtual destitution,for want of rehabilitation,” Vivek contended.

He further stated that the widow was offered a temporary job as a teacher at Army Public School,Chandimandir,where she served for more than eight years,but she was allegedly unceremoniously thrown out of service,without being given any reasons,in July 2012. This was despite the fact that she cleared the condition of passing the All India test conducted by the Army Welfare Education Society,within the stipulated time,securing 68.5% marks.

“Now,after a series of exchange of correspondence by Army High Command,she was finally asked after one year to appear afresh for an interview,that too for an adhoc post,thus once again throwing the family in a state of bewilderment and darkness about their future,” the counsel argued. He added that it was surprising that the Army itself virtually disowned its the family of its ‘braveheart’,completely forgetting the supreme sacrifice made by its soldier.

After hearing the parties,the court directed the Assistant Solicitor General to take up the matter with the Army Headquarters to find out if the petitioner could be absorbed at Panchkula on a permanent basis to secure her and her daughter’s future,accepting that measures to preserve her dignity and honour were required to be undertaken by the Army. The court observed that it would appreciate if the issue could be sympathetically considered by Army authorities on compassionate grounds and adjourned the case to August 19 for the report of Army Headquarters in the matter.

Curated For You

Dhurandhar Box Office Collection Worldwide Day 17 Update: Ranveer’s film earns epic Rs 870 cr globally, to enter Rs 600 cr club in India by Day 18

‘Burger from outside and salad from inside’: Psychologist explains why clean version of junk food gives satisfaction to many, including Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday

PM Modi says Congress would have let ‘Assam go to East Pakistan’: What was the 1946 plan; what Nehru, Gandhi said then