Some months before D. Ramu, an Army Naik, was to be discharged from service on medical grounds in 2002, he was required to submit a joint photograph with his wife Anuradha, whom he had married in 1991. Anuradha was his authorised “next of kin” as per records of the Corps of Army Air Defence (AAD). Post-discharge, he received pension till his death in April 2010.
Thereafter, the Assistant Director, Zilla Sainik Welfare Office, Mahabubnagar in Telangana, received an application from one D. Padma stating she was Ramu’s widow and sought grant of family pension. The officer in charge (Records), AAD Records, however, informed Ms. Padma her name did not tally with details of spouse mentioned in Ramu’s service documents.
It emerged that Ramu had married Ms. Padma in June 2003, years after Anuradha allegedly deserted him. He had not divorced Anuradha. Ms. Padma had begotten three children from Ramu. The Andhra Pradesh government’s family ration card issued in 2007 to Ramu mentioned Ms. Padma as his wife and had the names of her first two children. Their third child was born later.
