24 years on, jawan hurt in Sri Lanka ops gets disability benefits

Twenty-four years after he was discharged from service, an Army jawan has received disability benefits after fighting a legal battle for injuries suffered during India’s military intervention in Sri Lanka.

Havildar Tejinder Singh, from Kharar, had joined the Punjab Regiment in July 1985 and retired in September 2001 after rendering 16 years of service. His unit, 3 Punjab had moved to Sri Lanka in 1987 as part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) and was deployed at Vayunia to fight LTTE militants during Operation Pawan.

During a mission, Tejinder was moving as part of a road opening party and was ambushed by the militants, where he suffered severe bullet injuries on the left arm, neck, back and right shoulder, but he survived.

He was evacuated by a helicopter to the Military Hospital, Chennai. After treatment and recovery, he was placed in medical category but allowed to continue service being a battle casualty.

After retirement, he received his service pension, but did not get disability pension. He repeatedly approached his unit for benefits and finally, his medical board was held in 2015 at Command Hospital, Chandimandir. The board recommended pension for 50 per cent disability, but the benefits were not sanctioned.

Thereafter, he moved the Armed Forces Tribunal, which decided the case in his favour. The Bench awarded him disability pension with effect from 2001 along with arrears. He is also entitled to ex gratia paid by the state government as well as other entitlements applicable to battle casualties.