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Maharashtra finally grants benefits to martyr Major Anuj Sood’s widow and his family
KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)
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Summary
Major Anuj Sood sacrificed his life while rescuing civilian hostages in Kashmir in an anti-militancy operation in May 2020. He was awarded Shaurya Chakra for his sacrifice. Major Sood was a resident of Pune, Maharashtra at the time of his demise.
Maharashtra government has granted benefits to martyr Major Anuj Sood’s widow Aakriti Sood and his family under the Maharashtra government’s Government Resolutions (GR).
On Wednesday, the state government informed the Bombay High Court that it has granted the benefits to Major Sood’s family as per the state government’s GR.
Aakriti Singh’s lawyer, Advocate Sneha Bhange, told CNBC-TV18 that, “We have won. Today the state government informed the court that they have granted the benefits to Aakriti and her family under both GRs. The state government has issued a GR regarding the same. Yesterday, the District Sainik Board also approached Aakriti and informed her that her request was being processed. The court appreciated Maharashtra government’s stand.”
Bhange further added, “The state government has mentioned in its GR that this is a special case and this decision is an exception that has been made for Major Sood’s family.”
Major Anuj Sood sacrificed his life while rescuing civilian hostages in Kashmir in an anti-militancy operation in May 2020. He was awarded Shaurya Chakra for his sacrifice. Major Sood was a resident of Pune, Maharashtra at the time of his demise.
In 2021, Sood wrote to the Maharashtra government officials and the Sainik Welfare Board seeking the benefits that she and Major Sood’s family were eligible for. Her request was rejected and she was told that neither her husband was born in Maharashtra nor he lived in the state for 15 years (he lost his life before completing the said period). He didn’t have a domicile certificate, so he can’t be considered a Maharashtra resident.
Sood kept writing letters to various people and authorities including the Prime Minister and Maharashtra Chief Minister, but nothing happened. Last month she filed a writ petition in Bombay High Court. Sood provided evidence that satisfied the court that Major Sood was a Maharashtra resident.
The court asked the Maharashtra government to consider this as a special case and grant the benefits. The state government told the court on three occasions that because of the election code of conduct, the government can’t do anything.
The court pulled up the state government multiple times. In the last hearing, the court asked the Chief Minister to decide the matter. The court asked the Chief Minister that if he decides to reject the request, he has to put it in an affidavit and submit it to the court. On Wednesday, the state government informed the court that Sood’s request was granted.
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