Supreme Court rejects Centre's challenge to disability pensions for ex-soldiers, dismisses 270 appeals
The Supreme Court rebuked the Centre for continuing appeals against disability pensions granted to former soldiers and threw out more than 270 pending cases.
In a sharp rebuke, the Supreme Court condemned the Centre for persisting with appeals against disability pensions awarded to ex-servicemen, contrary to a 2015 recommendation by the defence minister. Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe dismissed more than 270 appeals that had been lodged against decisions of the Armed Forces Tribunal and several high courts. The bench directed the Centre to comply with the pension orders within a four-month period.
The court highlighted the Raksha Mantri report of 2015, which urged immediate withdrawal of such appeals, as a central reference for the veterans’ claims. The Centre had argued that not every ailment could be linked to military service, a position the court rejected. This decision obliges the government to honor the pension awards to disabled former soldiers.
Why it matters
The ruling forces the government to honor disability pensions for veterans, affecting thousands of ex-soldiers and setting a precedent for military welfare.
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