Late soldier’s wife fights an arduous battle for pension

The problem compounded for second wife with the deceased Army Naik’s sister ‘posing’ as his widow

Some months before D. Ramu, an Army Naik, was to be discharged from service on medical grounds in 2002, he was required to submit a joint photograph with his wife Anuradha, whom he had married in 1991. Anuradha was his authorised “next of kin” as per records of the Corps of Army Air Defence (AAD). Post-discharge, he received pension till his death in April 2010.

Thereafter, the Assistant Director, Zilla Sainik Welfare Office, Mahabubnagar in Telangana, received an application from one D. Padma stating she was Ramu’s widow and sought grant of family pension. The officer in charge (Records), AAD Records, however, informed Ms. Padma her name did not tally with details of spouse mentioned in Ramu’s service documents.

It emerged that Ramu had married Ms. Padma in June 2003, years after Anuradha allegedly deserted him. He had not divorced Anuradha. Ms. Padma had begotten three children from Ramu. The Andhra Pradesh government’s family ration card issued in 2007 to Ramu mentioned Ms. Padma as his wife and had the names of her first two children. Their third child was born later.

Thereafter in September 2010, the Army authorities received another petition seeking disbursal of Ramu’s death benefits to Anuradha and Ms. Padma with 25% share for the first wife and remaining for the second wife.

The Army authorities were perplexed when Ms. Padma not only contested this claim of Ramu having been previously married to Anuradha but also said the application for pension received in Anuradha’s name was actually sent by Ramu’s sister Suseela.

Facts that emerged during an investigation by the Zilla Sainik Welfare Office and police startled the authorities. The woman, who had applied for pension in Anuradha’s name, admitted that she was indeed Ramu’s sister. It so happened that Ramu, at the time of his discharge, was unable to legally substitute Ms. Padma as his spouse since he had not divorced Anuradha. Therefore, on the advise of someone, he had asked Suseela to pose for a joint photograph with him and submitted it to the AAD passing it of as his wife Anuradha. He did not foresee the complications after his lifetime.

After Suseela’s lie stood exposed, Ms. Padma sought to be declared as Ramu’s “next of kin” and be granted the pension.