CHENNAI: Being a soldier’s

, P D Sunantha did not think her remarriage and conversion to Islam would ever come in the way of her continuing to receive her husband’s family

. Sunantha became Haleema, and her religion became Islam instead of

Hinduism

in records.

However, it was only after Canara Bank denied her pension stating that it faced problems in linking her Aadhaar card which carried her new Muslim name, did Sunantha decide to approach the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) for remedy. The

came to her rescue, by ordering the local record office to make necessary changes and ensure that she received the family pension.

A few years ago Lance Naik V S Viju, who on patrol duty in Assam, met with an accident and had splinter injuries after a hand-grenade in his pocket detonated when he tripped and fell down. Though he was carried to the Air Force Hospital at Hasimra, the hospital authorities declared him as ‘brought dead’. His death was classified as battle casualty and liberalised family pension was sanctioned to his mother and wife Sunantha (50% each).

Sunantha, who used to receive her pension through Marthandam branch of Canara Bank in Kanyakumari district, married P Maheen later and

. She also changed her name to Haleema. Due changes were made in the government gazette in 2015, and she got her name changed in PAN and Aadhaar cards as well.

When Sunanthan — now Haleema — approached the Chennai regional bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal stating that bankers refused to release the family pension, the Army said the Integrated Headquarters of Ministry of Defence (Army) in its letter on April 2018 revised its policy on allowing change of name so that widows of deceased soldiers did not face any problems in receiving pensions.

On hearing both the sides, Justice VS Ravi and Lieutenant General C A Krishnan directed the Record Office in Madras Regiment Abhilekh Karyalaya to make changes in the Army records.

The office has been asked to publish the Part-II order changing her name as Haleema instead of Sunantha and religion as Islam instead of Hinduism.

Speaking to TOI, Tonifia Miranda, Haleema’s advocate, said the record office informed them that they had begun the process and soon the changes would be published.