Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony (L) stands in the cockpit of a Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer aircraft as Air Chief Marshall, F.H. Major (3-R) looks on during the induction ceremony at Bidar Air Force StationTribune News Service, Chandigarh, September 16
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued contempt notice to the defence secretary over the government's failure to release pension benefits to an 80-year-old veteran as directed by the court earlier.
In its verdict delivered on March 11 this year, a division bench comprising Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice Mohinder Pal had allowed a petition filed by ex-reservist Harjinder Singh, seeking sanction of reservist pension.
The court had directed that his pension, along with arrears of three years and two months preceding the date of filing the petition, be released within two months from the date of the court's order. Any delay in the matter would be "inexcusable", the court had observed.
Residing in an old age home here, the 80-year old veteran has been battling for his pension since he retired in 1967. He had taken up the matter on numerous occasions, but the controller of defence accounts had turned down his pleas on the ground that he had been discharged upon his own request.
Harjinder had put in over 17 years colour service, including reserve service. Service rules stipulate that 15 years service is required for grant of reservist pension. He had moved the High Court in 2006. The HC, in its order had also observed that voluntary retirement cannot be a ground for refusing pension.
Contempt notice to defence secretary
Comments: One of the typical cases of MOD bureaucratic apathy and bungling in respect of ESM. Can a ESM ever dream of fair play by MOD? One Rank One Pension is an illusion! The security of the Nation is the ground reality made possible by sacrifices of lakhs of ESM.
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