High Court Of Delhi
NAIK RAJ SINGH - Appellant
Versus
UNION OF INDIA - Respondent
Civil Writ 54 of 1997
Decided On : 02/17/1999
disability pension - Indian Army - The petitioner, who was serving in the Indian Army, claimed disability pension due to amputation of his right index finger. His claim was rejected on the ground that the disability had been assessed at 1.5 percent below the pensionable degree of 20 percent. The petitioner's representation for retention in the army service and disability pension was also rejected. The court dismissed the writ petition.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner, a serving member of the Indian Army, claimed disability pension due to amputation of his right index finger. His claim was rejected on the grounds of assessment below the pensionable degree. The petitioner's representation for retention in the army service and disability pension was also rejected.
Finding of the Court:
The court dismissed the writ petition, stating that the petitioner had not accepted the employment offered to him and therefore, the court was not inclined to accept his case.
Issues: The main issue was the petitioner's claim for disability pension and his representation for retention in the army service.
Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was influenced by the petitioner's failure to accept the employment offered to him and the rejection of his representation for retention in the army service.
Final Decision: The writ petition was dismissed, and no costs were awarded.
( 1 ) THE petitioner, who was serving in the Indian Army, has claimed disability pension.
( 2 ) THE circumstances under which the petitioner s discharge are stated in the counter in the following terms. The petitioner was wounded in O. P. Riddle on 9. 9. 1965 while serving with 5 JAT. The result was there was amputation of his right index finger. He was placed in the medical category cee (temporary) for six months w. e. f. 13. 8. 1966 which was continued for a further period of six months w. e. f. 21. 2. 1967. The petitioner s case was reviewed and was placed in permanentmedical category cee on 19. 1. 1968 and retained in service in sheltered appointment. He was discharged from service w. e. f. 28. 6. 1970 as sheltered appointment was not available thereafter. He was brought before a Release Medical Board at Military Hospital, Bareilly. The Release Medical Board passed the disability at 1. 5 percent attributable to military service. The claim of the petitioner for the disability pension was considered by the Chief Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions), Allahabad and the same was rejected on the ground that the disability had been assessed at 1. 5 percent below pensionable degree i. e. 20 percent. That decision was communicated to the petitioner. The petitioner was paid invalid gratuity. In the counter, it is also stated that the petitioner had been representing for retention in the army service. As per the terms of the Government of India, Ministry of Defence, letter No. A/18219/viii/org/2 (MP) (c)/48/d (AG- ll)dated 3. 1. 1973. The respondents did not comply with the request on the ground that the petitioner was discharged from service on 27. 6. 1970, long before the letter issued by the Ministry of Defence. His claim for disability pension was also rejected. The petitioner was given a chance for his rehabilitation in the post of peon in the Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi. The petitioner had not cared to join the post. The petitioner is not entitled to the disability pension. The order rejecting the representation dated 18. 6. 1996 was passed on 3. 7. 1997, which reads as under:
"disability Pension: No. 3144823 EX LINK Raj Singh 1. Refer to Army Headquarters letter No. A/20302/org 8 (I or R) (a) dated 18 Jun 96 addressed to this office and copy to you. 2. Full facts of your case have already been intimated to you several times in the past. However, it is again intimated to you that your invaliding disability amputation INDEX FINGER (RT)" was viewed attributable to military service but assessed at less than 20% permanently by your Release Medical Board and CCDA (P) Allahabad both. The decision was conveyed to you vide this office letter No. 3144823 /dp/jr dated 12 Aug 70. Accordingly you are not entitled to disability pension. You were, entitled to invalid gratuity which was worked out to Rs. 1,249. 50 which has already been remitted to you during Dec. , 1970. "
( 3 ) THE petitioner has approached this Court as if the respondents did not offer him any employment and only for the first time his claim for disability pension was considered in July, 1996. No explanation has been forthcoming as to why the petitioner has not accepted the post offered to him. I am not inclined to accept the case of the petitioner.
( 4 ) ACCORDINGLY, the writ petition stands dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs. W. P. dismissed.
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