JUDGMENT :

S. RAVINDRA BHAT, J.

1. The present civil appeal challenges an order of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, New Delhi¹ [In Consumer Complaint No. 647 of 2017] (hereafter “Commission”). The application by CPL Ashish Kumar Chauhan (hereafter “appellant”) for compensation was dismissed by the Commission. The Commanding Officer, 171 Military Hospital is arrayed as the first Respondent; the Medical Officer at the 171 Military Hospital (“171 MH”) is the second respondent; the Principal Director, Directorate of Air Veterans is impleaded as the third respondent; the Commanding Officer of the South Western Air Command (Gandhinagar HQ) is arrayed as fourth respondent, and the Senior Medical Officer at the said Military facility is impleaded as the fifth respondent. The first, second and fifth respondents are, hereafter, referred to (unless the context otherwise requires) as “Indian Army”; and the third and fourth respondents, as “IAF.”

(I) Relevant Facts

2. The aftermath of the attack on Indian Parliament, (i.e. on 13 December 2001) was followed by heightened tens