Mumbai, November 26, 2025 : The mother of Agniveer Murali Naik, who was martyred in cross-border shelling during Operation Sindoor in Jammu & Kashmir, has approached the Bombay High Court challenging the government’s denial of full posthumous benefits typically granted to families of regular soldiers.
In her petition, Jyotibai Naik argued that the Agnipath scheme creates an “arbitrary and discriminatory” divide between Agniveers and regular soldiers, despite both performing identical duties and facing equal risks on the frontline.
Killed During Heavy Shelling in Poonch
Murali Naik was killed on May 9 when Pakistani forces violated the ceasefire and launched heavy artillery and mortar fire in Poonch, amid India’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack under Operation Sindoor.
Petition Highlights Unequal Benefits
Filed through advocates Sandesh More, Hemant Ghadigaonkar and Hitendra Gandhi, the plea states that families of Agniveers are denied long-term pensionary and welfare benefits available to the kin of regular soldiers.
The petition notes:
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Agniveer families receive a one-time ex-gratia of around ₹1 crore,
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but no regular family pension,
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and no long-term welfare entitlements,
despite the service conditions and sacrifices being the same.
The plea asserts that the denial violates constitutional guarantees of equality and non-discrimination, arguing that the scheme creates “an arbitrary and unreasonable classification without any intelligible differentia.”
Family’s Repeated Appeals Went Unanswered
After Naik’s death, his mother wrote multiple letters to military and government authorities seeking parity in benefits.
However, according to the petition, no response has been received so far.
What the Petitioner Seeks
The petition does not challenge the entire Agnipath scheme, but specifically demands equal posthumous benefits, including:
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Family pension
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Institutional recognition
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Long-term welfare support for families of fallen Agniveers
It also requests the court to direct authorities to examine and grant her family’s pending claim.
The case is expected to be placed before a division bench of the Bombay High Court in due course.
