Chandigarh: On the 14th anniversary of Kargil Divas, a shocking case of army apathy and subsequent justice has come to light. The Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (PCDA) had denied compensation to a soldier’s widow on the bizarre ground that he was not on duty since he died in an accident on the way to the toilet.
Notably, Sepoy Lakshman Kumar of Dogra Regiment had died after he suffered head injuries in Ladakh on August 2009.
The armed forces tribunal (AFT) in Chandigarh on Thursday said that a soldier taking a loo break during work hours should be deemed on duty for the nation while ordering Rs. 10 lakh compensation for a jawan’s widow.
Justice Vinod Kumar Ahuja-led AFT bench ordered the compensation meant for soldiers killed on duty in Kumar’s case with an additional 10% interest.
Kumar’s widow Daxina Devi, who lives in Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh, had challenged the denial of compensation, saying, “It seems strange that the office of the PCDA is suggesting that a person should not even go out to attend the nature’s call and if he does, he shall not be considered on duty during those particular moments.”
Armed Forces Tribunals have powers similar to high courts and handle military related matters.
