DISABILITY BENEFITS Veterans allege subversion of Supreme Court orders

A notice states that despite the SC orders, the MoD''s letter states that no benefits would be granted to prematurely or voluntary retirees who are in receipt of disability pension

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 17

While the Supreme Court had ordered that disability pension be granted to affected soldiers with effect from January 1996, a letter issued by the Ministry of Defence states that the benefits would be granted prospectively from January 2015. This has a section of ex-servicemen up in arms alleging subversion of judicial directives.

Stating that the action of the MoD is contemptuous, Chandigarh-based All India Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association has in a legal notice issued to the Defence Secretary and Secretary, Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare, stated the said benefits granted by tribunals and high courts were upheld by a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court.

The notice states that despite the apex court’s orders, the MoD’s letter states that no benefits would be granted to prematurely or voluntary retirees who are in receipt of disability pension.

Calling for disciplinary action against officers involved in issuing such letters, the notice sattse that exaggerated and inflated figures on the financial costs of granting disability benefits have been projected before the courts, where as the actual cost was only between Rs 155 to Rs 1,053 per month. The Mod has spent much more than this on litigation against disabled soldiers alone.

(Source- The Tribune - via Sanjha Morchablog)