Mother of slain Agniveer files petition seeking equal benefits to Agniveers

The petition says that the Agniveer scheme excludes recruits from post-service pension benefits and other long-term welfare entitlements, available to regular soldiers, calling it ‘discriminatory’, ’arbitrary’ and the classification between soldiers as ‘unreasonable’, calling it a violation of various fundamental rights, guaranteed by the Constitution. The plea seeks that policy guidelines be framed to ensure that no soldier’s family is deprived of posthumous benefits or institutional recognition solely on the basis of the tenure, category or mode of recruitment, also seeking guidelines for those who become disabled while in service.

“The family of a fallen Agniveer receives certain ex-gratia and insurance-based payments (amounting to approximately Rs 1 crore in total, under several combined heads); however they are not provided the regular family pension, lifelong healthcare, or social security benefits that accrue automatically to the families of regular soldiers killed in identical field conditions,” the petition filed through lawyers advocates Sandesh More, Hemant Ghadigaonkar and Hitendra Gandhi said.

It adds that after Murali’s death, the Commanding Officer of the 851 Light Regiment, which he was attached to, had affirmed his ‘bravery, leadership and supreme sacrifice’, and the state of Andhra Pradesh extended certain recognition and assistance, but Jyothibai’s detailed representation to various authorities requesting extending similar benefits as provided to families of regular soldiers, did not get a response.

“The petitioner’s objective is not to challenge the policy goal of maintaining a youthful Armed Force but to ensure that constitutional guarantees of equality, dignity, and honour are not compromised,” the petition states.