Bhunder wdo Late Nk Rek Singh vs UOI & Others on 26 November 2025

O R D E R

26.11.2025

1. Under Section 14 of the Armed Forces Tribunal Act 2007, the Applicant, who is the wife of late Nk Rek Singh, has filed this OA praying for directing the Respdondents to grant family pension to the Applicant wef 13/10/2016 for life for the service rendered by her husband for the first spell of his service with interest @12% pa.

2. Brief facts of the case as enunciated by the applicant are that the husband of the applicnat was enrolled in the Army on 16/2/1970 and was discharged from service on 05/10/1985 at his own request after serving for 15 years and 23 days of service in the rank of Naik for which he was granted service pension for life. Thereafter, he was re-enrolled in DSC on 06/7/1988 and was discharged from there on 28/2/2007 under Rule 13 (3) item III (i) on attaining the age of 57 years. He had rendered 19 years and service pension for the second spell also was granted to him. Husband of the applicant initially got married to some other lady who had expired in the year 1989 and upon her demise husband of the applicant got married to the applicant and DO Part II Order in this regard was also published by the DSC Records. Copy of relationship certificate dated 12/2/2007 issued by DSC Records, is annexed at Annexure A/5. Husband of the applicant expired on 12/10/2016, copy of death certificate, Annexure A/6. After the demise of husband of the applicant, 100% family pension from DSC was notified in favour of the applicant, whereas family pension for the first spell of service was not granted to the applicant even after repeated representations , Annexure A/7 & 8. She further submits she is entitled for grant of dual family pension wef 24/9/2012 as per the policy of Govt of India, Ministry of Defence, Department of Ex- Servicemen Welfare. Having been aggrieved, the applicant has filed this OA, praying for relief.

3. Respondents have filed a detailed Reply Statement. At first they have raised preliminary objections on the ground that vide Rajput Regiment Records letter dated 12/7/2024, wherein DSC Records had been requested to ascertain the facts of re-marriage of late Nk Rek Singh with the applicant and forward certain documents, such as, copy of death certificate alongwith demise Part II Order in respect of first wife of the applicant, ie, Smt Dhiropat Devi and the Marriage Part II Order under which late Naik Rek Singh got remarried to the present applicant, ie, Smt Bhunder, to enable them to take up the case with PCDA (P). Further, husband of the applicant was enrolled in the Army (Rajput Regiment) on 16/2/1970 and was discharged from service on 05/10/1985 and was granted service pension for the qualifying service. As per service record held with Records Rajput Regiment, husband of the applicant was married to Smt Dhiropat Devi on 20/3/1977 and her name has been notified in the PPO. He was re-enrolled in

DSC on 06/7/1988 and consequent to his re-enrolment, complete service dossier including Sheet Roll was transferred to DSC Records. As per intimation received from Zila Sainik Karyalaya, Karauli, vide their letter dated 20/7/2020, husband of the applicant expired on 12/10/2016 and requested Record Office to grant family pension to the applicant. Upon the demise of soldier, Record Office had advised the Zila Sainik Office to take necessary steps in granting family pension to Smt Dhiropat Devi. Respondents have further submitted that upon the demise of first wife of the deceased soldier in the year 1989, he reported to have got remarried to Smt Bhunder, the applicant herein, for which Records the Rajput Regiment vide their letter dated 12/7/2024 requested the DSC Records to ascertain the fact of the case regarding her remarriage of late Nk Rek Singh with the present applicant. On receipt of documents asked from the DSC Corps, Records The Rajput Regiment will publish mandatory Part II orders regarding demise of Smt Dhiropat Devi and re-marriage of Smt Bhunder by the deceasd soldier. Thereafter, the case will be processed with PCDA (P) for notification of Corrigendum PPO in favour of the applicant.

4. We have heard the counsels for the parties and perused the material placed on record.

5. Having heard and perused the material on record, it is evident that Naik Rek Singh had two spell of service; firstly, in the Army and secondly, in DSC for which he was granted Service Pension for life for the qualifying service. During his service with the Army Smt Dhiropat Devi was recorded as his wife and accordingly her name was entered in the PPO, as his nominee and NoK, issued for granting pension for the service rendered in the Army. However, while serving with DSC, first wife of the deceased Nk Rek Singh is stated to have expired in the year 1989 and thereafter, he got re-married to the present applicant. He died on

12/10/2016 as intimated to the Record Office, Rajput Regiment, by the Zila Sainik Karyalaya, Karauli, Rajasthan.

6. In view of the foregoing and since the Respondents have not disputed the fact of re-marrige of the deceased soldier with the present applicant and her eligibility for grant of dual family pension upon the demise of Nk Rek Singh wef 13/10/2016, we direct DSC Records to submit requisite documents asked for by the Rajput Regiment vide their letter dated 12/7/2024 to them within a period two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this Order. It is further directed that upon verification of documents Record Office of both DSC and Rajput Regiment shall jointly ensure necessary steps in publishing necessary casualty with regard to re-marriage of deceased Naik Rek Singh with the applicant and accordingly granting her Dual Family Pension as admissible to her with effect from the date of death of the deceased soldier, ie, the husband of the applicant herein, wef 13/10/2016. The whole exercise shall be completed expeditiously, but not later than six months from the date of this Order.

7. OA is disposed off accordingly. No order on costs.

8. Pending application, if any, also stands disposed off.

(SANJIV MITTAL)

(GOVERDHAN BARDHAR) MEMBER (A)

MEMBER (J)

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