After fighting enemies, ex-servicemen fight for pension dues

In the last five years, over 200 ex-servicemen have knocked on the doors of the judiciary after the Army refused to release their dues. The number of cases of ex-servicemen and their dependants approaching the courts after the Army refused to release their dues has increased manifold. In the last five years, over 200 ex-servicemen have knocked on the doors of the judiciary, asking authorities to intervene.

“The increase in litigation can be attributed to failure of some Army officers to correctly interpret certain conditions in the Army rules,” said an official. But most affected are the sepoys and Junior Commissioned Officers, who constitute more than 90 per cent of the Indian Army. Most of them live in the rural areas and are unaware of their rights.

But nowadays, local ex-servicemen organisations have also come forward to fight for their cause. “Many ex-servicemen and widows have approached us. In most of the cases, we have found that find the Army refused to release the benefits for no reason. At first, we pursue the cases with the higher authorities for relief. If they fail to provide a solution, we approach judiciary,” said Lt Col S S Sohi of the Ex-servicemen Grievances Cell. Sohi added that the cell had pursued more than a 100 cases in the last four years. “The Army has released the benefits in most of the cases. In certain cases, the judiciary stepped in to provide relief,” he added.

Army authorities said they are devising a method to curtail the number of cases and release the due monetary benefits to ex-servicemen as early as possible.

At a glance

l Ninety-year-old Sepoy Dalip Singh (Retd) filed a petition asking for the release of his pension benefits. The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the authorities to comply with its directions by July 15. If they fail to do so, General Deepak Kapoor, Chief of the Army Staff, would be summoned to court to reply.

After an 18-year-long struggle with the Ministry of Defence, P M Annama, widow of late Master Warrant Officer E M Mathai, was ultimately granted Special Family Pension by a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Chief Petty Officer Gurjant Singh, Indian Naval Services, finally got his pension after a long battle of 26 years. An ex-servicemen welfare organisation took up the matter and helped in the release of benefits.

Family pension released to Harinder Kaur, wife of late Bhinder Singh Mangat of the Indian Navy, after 21 years.
After fighting enemies, ex-servicemen fight for pension dues

Tailpiece: What methods have been designed by the Defence Authorities to curtail pensioners seeking judicial intervention? The corrupt and venal ignoramus and their ilk have milked and fooled the nation and the ex- servicemen.