L-G rejects `1 crore relief to ex-soldier’s kin who killed self

Noting that the AAP government’s decision is not in-line with the compensation policy to provide exgratia to servicemen, lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal has rejected the proposal to give `1 crore compensation to the family of ex-serviceman Ram Kishen Grewal who had committed suicide over the OROP issue last year.

Sources said that Mr Baijal, on March 6, rejected the decision of the Delhi Cabinet which had also granted martyr status to the deceased. Last year, the Army veteran had committed suicide in the national capital demanding immediate implementation of onerank one-pension (OROP).

“The lieutenant-governor has turned down the proposal sent by the Delhi Cabinet for his approval, saying it is not in line with compensation policy to provide ex-gratia to servicemen,” the sources said.

In his note to chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, Mr Baijal said that as mentioned in the Cabinet decision, Mr Grewal had consumed poison on November 1, 2016, during a protest for the implementation of OROP. “This specific case does not fall within the parameters of the scheme for grant of ex-gratia payment i.e. death occurring in the discharge of official duty. Therefore, while I fully sympathise with the family of Subedar (Retd.) late Ram Kishen Grewal, I’m not able to agree to the proposal for payment of ex-gratia relief in this case,” Mr Baijal said in the note.

He said the position was also explained to the chief minister during his meeting with him earlier this month. This is the first proposal of the Delhi government shot down by Mr Baijal after he cleared a slew of files that were stuck with the L-G office during Najeeb Jung’s tenure. The move may trigger a tussle between the AAP dispensation and the L-G office.