Finally, 50-year-old battle ends at 90

By Shariff Ameeruddin Ishaqui

Hyderabad, June 14: A 90-year-old ex soldier has finally won his prolonged battle against red tape.
Mr. Hayath Pasha, native on Nellore district, had been petitioning the Accountant-General Office for the last 50-years on his arrears and it has finally admitted its mistake and directed the Sainik welfare Officer to pay him.
Mr. Pasha joined in the British Army in 1942 and served for five years. During Second World War he worked as a signal man in the British Army. After the independence too he worked in the Army for a few years.
Later he was discharged from the service due to ill health. After that he got a job in Hyderabad Metro Water Works.
Around that time he applied to AG Office through Water Works for his pay fixation. He submitted all the original documents and the AG office acknowledged his application. But nothing happen after that.
Water Works authorities removed him from the service in 1952, on the ground that he failed to submit his original certificates education.
Since than Mr. Pasha, knocking all doors to get his original certificates..
After all his efforts bore no fruit, at last he approached the High Court for the justice in 2005. Unfortunately his petition was dismissed.
Finally he wrote a letter to the Chief Justice and also approached to the AP State Legal service Authority.
The court took up the matter and Legal Service Authority provided aid by entrusting case to advocate Mr. Ramana Rao.
His petition was heard by Justice Bilal Nazki, who was the acting Chief Justice and he expressed anguish over the callousness of the AG office.
However, Justice Nazki was transferred to Mumbai.
Then Mr. Pasha appeared before the present Chief Justice AR Dave and pleaded for speedy disposal of the case.
Mean while the Accountant -General sent a communication to the Director
Sainik Welfare that the certificates and vouchers with a pay bill submitted by Mr. Pasha to the than Accountant General Officer in 1952.
The records and vouchers are retained for limited period with reference to this period of preservation. The vouchers of 1952 which are 50 -years old have been weeded out long back.
Mr. Pasha told this correspondent earlier that he would not abandon the battle till he got his dues.