Mah govt may close pension scheme for those jailed during Emergency: R&R Minister

Talking to UNI, Mr Wadettiwar objected to the scheme floated by the erstwhile BJP government.

"The beneficiaries are not freedom fighters. Hence, the pension scheme ought to be closed down immediately. The scheme was announced in July, 2018, but the beneficiaries were given pensions since January, 2018," he mentioned, adding that such back-dated benefits are wrong.

According to sources, even the Departments of Law and Judiciary as well as Finance are averse to the scheme.

The scheme was initiated by the Devendra Fadnavis government, following in the steps of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh governments.

A group of RSS activists jailed for opposing the imposition of the Emergency were against the scheme. However, it was implemented, despite opposition from several groups.

The scheme provisions that those who were jailed for more than a month are entitled to a pension of Rs 10,000 per month, while those jailed for a period less than that are entitled to get Rs 5,000 per month.

While 3,267 individuals have already been receiving the pension since January 2018, at least 1,200 more applications are awaiting final approval, the officials said.

Prospective beneficiaries are made to declare their arrest during the Emergency on a simple stamp paper of Rs 100 and granted a pension on the basis of this declaration.

The Law and Judiciary Department has critiqued this 'simple' procedure for implementation of the scheme.