In a significant development regarding the infamous Bhanwari Devi abduction and murder case in Rajasthan, the High Court has ordered the calculation and disbursement of pension benefits for the late ANM Bhanwari Devi's heirs. The application, filed by her son Sahil and daughter, sought various benefits, including arrears, regular pension, and retirement benefits.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that while Bhanwari Devi's son had received a sympathy appointment in the Health Department, and her death had been acknowledged by the Medical Department on September 1, 2011, the issuance of a death certificate had been denied. This denial was the basis for withholding arrears, regular pension, and retirement benefits from the heirs.

The legal counsel for the petitioners explained that the initial application for a death certificate was made to the District Collector, Jodhpur, and subsequently, as per the Deputy Collector's orders, to the Tehsildar of Pipad City, Jodhpur district. However, the Tehsildar refused to issue the death certificate, claiming that Bhawri Devi's death did not fall within their jurisdiction, and her last rites were not conducted within their purview.

Strikingly, the Tehsildar of Pipad City contended that Bhanwari Devi's death did not occur, leading to a perplexing situation. Advocates Yashpal Khilery and Ashwani, representing the petitioners, filed a petition in 2018 asserting that Bhawri Devi was actively working as a female health worker in the Health Department.

The tragic sequence of events began on September 1, 2011, when Bhanwari Devi went to Bilada to collect payment for a car she had sold and never returned. Following her disappearance, her husband Amar Chand filed a missing report at the police station. Subsequently, a habeas corpus petition was filed in Jodhpur, leading the Rajasthan High Court to order a CBI investigation.

During the CBI probe, it was uncovered that Bhanwari Devi had been murdered, her body burnt, and remains dumped in the Indira Gandhi Canal. The revelation resulted in the arrest of around 13 accused, including the then Cabinet Minister Mahipal Maderna and Luni MLA Malkhan Singh Bishnoi from the ruling state government. The accused are currently out on bail, and the trial has been ongoing for years.

In light of the recent court order, Bhanwari Devi's heirs are now set to receive pension benefits, a significant step in a case that has been marked by legal complexities and controversies since its inception.