AFT Lucknow Upholds Soldier's Right to Disability Pension, Citing Stress of Service

Lucknow, India – In a significant ruling reinforcing the rights of military personnel, the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) at Lucknow has held that a medical condition aggravated by the stress and strain of military service is considered "attributable to service," making the individual eligible for a disability pension. The Tribunal granted relief to Prakash Singh, a retired soldier who had been denied his claim by the authorities.

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Background of the Case

The applicant, Prakash Singh, had served diligently in the Indian Army for over 15 years. Upon his retirement, he was diagnosed with a chronic ailment that he contended was a direct result of the demanding conditions and high-stress environments he was exposed to during his service tenure.

However, the military's pension sanctioning authority rejected his claim for a disability pension. The rejection was based on the argument that the ailment was "constitutional" in nature and there was no direct, causal incident during his service that could be pinpointed as the cause. Aggrieved by this decision, Mr. Singh approached the Armed Forces Tribunal seeking justice.

Arguments Presented

The counsel for Prakash Singh argued that while the soldier was medically fit at the time of his enlistment, the continuous exposure to rigorous physical and mental stress inherent in military life had either caused or significantly aggravated his condition. They cited established legal precedents, including the landmark Supreme Court judgment in Dharamvir Singh v. Union of India , which established that any deterioration in a soldier's health is presumed to be linked to their service unless proven otherwise by the employer.

The respondents, representing the Union of India, maintained their stance that the disability was not directly attributable to military service. They argued that the absence of a specific injury or event meant the condition could not be conclusively linked to Mr. Singh's duties and was therefore not covered under the relevant pension regulations.

Tribunal's Reasoning and Judgment

The AFT Lucknow Bench, after a careful examination of the service records and medical documents, sided with the applicant. The Tribunal observed that the principle of "attributability" should not be interpreted in a narrow or hyper-technical manner.

The judgment emphasized a key legal principle: if a soldier enters service in a sound medical condition, any subsequent disability or ailment must be presumed to have arisen from the service conditions. The onus, the Tribunal reiterated, is on the military authorities to present compelling evidence to rebut this presumption.

Quoting from its order, the Bench noted:

"The stress and strain of military service cannot be measured in simplistic terms. The challenging terrains, prolonged separation from family, and the constant state of high alert take a toll on an individual's health. Therefore, any medical condition that manifests during or after service must be viewed through the lens of these unique and demanding circumstances."

The Tribunal found that the respondents had failed to provide sufficient evidence to disprove the connection between Mr. Singh's service and his disability.

Final Decision and Implications

The Armed Forces Tribunal set aside the rejection order and directed the respondents to grant Prakash Singh the disability pension he is entitled to, calculated from the date of his retirement, with all consequential arrears to be paid within a stipulated timeframe.

This decision serves as a crucial reaffirmation of the welfare-oriented approach courts are expected to take in matters concerning ex-servicemen. It strengthens the legal standing for veterans whose disability claims are often rejected on the grounds that their conditions are not linked to a specific, singular event like combat or an accident.