The Madhya Pradesh High Court has issued a scathing critique of the Indian Army's handling of missing soldiers' cases, describing its behavior as "somewhat rude" and calling for an overhaul of outdated laws governing pension and retirement benefits for their families.
The court's observations were made in the context of a case involving the parents of Signalman Surendra Singh Solanki, who went missing on July 25, 2010. Solanki's parents were initially granted an ordinary family pension but were later denied a special family pension and arrears due to the lack of a death certificate.
Justice Anil Verma, presiding over the case, expressed dismay at the army's expectations that grieving families navigate complex legal processes to obtain a declaration of death for missing soldiers. He lamented the denial of pension and other benefits to these families, calling it a "hardship for the grieving family of a missing soldier."
The High Court emphasized the need to reform existing laws, which it deemed "worn out" and inadequate in addressing the needs of missing soldiers' families. It stressed the importance of upholding the dignity and honor of soldiers and ensuring that their families receive the support they deserve.
This landmark ruling has the potential to significantly impact the lives of countless families who have lost loved ones in the line of duty. It underscores the urgent need for the Indian Army to review its policies and practices concerning missing soldiers and to collaborate with lawmakers to enact necessary reforms.
