'Stepmother can't get family pension under IAF rules'

THE Centre on Thursday told the Supreme Court that under the Indian Air Force (IAF) rules, a stepmother couldn't be considered for a family pension, as she is distinct from the natural mother in both legal and relational terms.

- SUCHITRA KALYAN MOHANTY @ New Delhi

The Centre made these submissions to the apex court while responding to a plea filed by a stepmother, Jayashree Y. Jogi, who challenged an Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) order denying her special family pension. Jogi's plea, filed in the top court, said her deceased son was an active airman and was dining at the Air Force mess when he died under mysterious circumstances on April 28, 2008. The air force claimed