Centre told to pay pension to INA members

MADURAI: The Central government was directed by the Madurai Bench of the High Court on Monday to pay pension to a person who served in the Indian National Army (INA) and underwent imprisonment.Anandam (86), of Madhichiyam in Madurai, in his petition before the Bench, had said that he joined the 103rd regiment of the INA as a soldier in 1944. He was arrested by the British and held in Rangoon prison from May 21, 1945, up to February 26, 1946. He returned to Tamil Nadu after India became independent.When the State government offered monthly pension for freedom fighters, he also applied for it on November 20, 1968. Marimuthu, Vellaichamy and Mahalingam who were with him in prison, gave him certificates to the effect. In 1982, he applied for Central government pension, but his plea was rejected citing various reasons. He had prayed for a directive to the Central government to grant him freedom fighter’s pension.Justice R Sudhakar before whom the petition came up, directed the petitioner to submit his application through the District Collector of Madurai and for the Collector to recommend the application.