IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of Decision : February 26, 2026 Union of India and others .. Petitioners Versus NK Avtar Singh and another .. Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARSIMRAN SINGH SETHI HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VIKAS SURI Present: Mr. Harkirat Singh Sandhu, Advocate, for the petitioners.

HARSIMRAN SINGH SETHI J. (ORAL)

1. In the present petition, the challenge is to the impugned order dated 31.10.2023 (Annexure P-1) passed by respondent No.2 – Armed Forces Tribunal, Regional Bench, Chandigarh (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Tribunal), by which, the respondent is held entitled to the grant of War Injury Pension @ 30% instead of normal disability pension.

2. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners submits that the grant of benefit of war injury pension by the Tribunal is not covered as, the officer though received the injury during continuance of Operation Rakshak, but it was received due to a vehicular accident hence, the same cannot be treated as battle causality/injury. Learned counsel for the petitioners further argues that under any circumstances, even if the injury suffered by the respondent No. 1 is treated to be attributable