Delhi high court to defense ministry: The Delhi High Court on Saturday (July 5, 2025) dismissed more than 200 petitions of the Ministry of Defense in which the order of the Armed Forces Tribunal was challenged, in which many defense personnel were considered entitled to the disabled pension for their disabled.
The High Court said that defense personnel cannot be denied disability pension only on the basis that disability started when they were posted in a peaceful area or calling it a lifestyle disease.
The court said, “Military service is naturally stressful due to a combination of several factors.” A bench of Justice Naveen Chawla and Justice Shalinder Kaur said that giving disability pension is not a generosity, but a proper and equitable approval of the sacrifice made by the defense workers, which manifests as disability/disorder during their military service.
The bench said in its 85 -page shared judgment passed on July 1, “The purpose of giving disabilities pension to Indian armed forces personnel is to provide necessary financial assistance to those who face disdefycation or disease during their service due to the terms of service.” It says that this is a step that holds the responsibility of the country towards those soldiers with courage and dedication.
Central government gave this argument
The Central Government challenged the order of the tribunal through the Ministry of Defense on the basis that the release Medical Board (RMB) had clearly stated that the medical condition of the defense personnel suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes mellitus type-two was neither due to military service nor due to it. The ministry argued that these workers are not entitled to the disabled pension.
What did Delhi High Court say in the case,
The High Court said that it is necessary for the RMB to present concrete and rational justification for its findings that the illness or disability faced by the workers cannot be said to be increased due to or due to such service conditions or due to them. The court said that the defense personnel disabled pension cannot be denied only on the basis that disability started when they were posted in a peaceful area.
Military service is also stressful in peaceful region- Delhi High Court
The court said that even in the peaceful region, military service is naturally stressful, as it consists of many factors such as rigorous discipline, long working hours, limited personal freedom and frequent readiness for deployment.
The court said, “The psychological burden of staying away from the family, living in isolated or challenging environment and dealing with the uncertainty of sudden transfers or duty further increases this tension. In addition, persistent war training increases mental fatigue. ”
RMB Should introduce rational conclusions- High Court
The court said that RMB should not resort to unclear and conservative approach, but should make a broad, logical and rational analysis of the service and medical records of the personnel. The court said that RMB should present rational conclusions while discharging the obligation assigned to it.
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