Maharashtra Government Allocates ₹1 Crore Benefits for Army Hero’s Family After High Court’s Rebuke

In response to criticism from the Bombay High Court, the Maharashtra government has reversed its stance and decided to provide nearly ₹1 crore in financial support to the family of Major Anuj Sood, an Army hero who lost his life in action. Advocate General Birendra Saraf informed the court that the government would allocate the funds, in addition to a monthly grant of ₹9,000 to the martyr’s widow, Aakriti Sood.

Expressing appreciation for the government’s change of heart, the court urged swift action to disburse the funds.

The decision came during a hearing of a plea by Aakriti Sood, Major Sood’s widow, who approached the court after facing difficulties in accessing benefits due to domicile requirements. Major Sood was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra for his bravery in rescuing civilian hostages from terrorist hideouts on May 2, 2020.

Initially, the state government cited policy constraints due to the ongoing poll process, but the court expressed dissatisfaction and sought an explanation from the government. Subsequently, the government decided to grant ₹60 lakh to Aakriti Sood and ₹40 lakh to Major Sood’s father, Chandrakant Sood, along with a monthly grant of ₹9,000 under the state’s Gaurav Puraskar Yojana. The funds will be disbursed from the Chief Minister’s Welfare Fund and the state’s social security and welfare fund for widows of soldiers killed in encounters.

While appreciating the government’s decision, the court emphasized that this should not be considered a precedent and was granted solely on humanitarian grounds. Aakriti Sood had sought financial assistance and Shaurya Chakra benefits, citing Major Sood’s aspirations to reside in Maharashtra. The Maharashtra government had initially contested the claim, citing Major Sood’s origins in Himachal Pradesh and residence in Haryana, as per domicile requirements.

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