Ex-serviceman gets disability pension after over 50 years

Chandigarh, July 23

It has taken over 50 years of legal wrangling and crossing administrative hurdles for a visually impaired ex-serviceman residing in Mohali to finally get his disability pension. Mohinder Singh, who is now 100 per cent visually impaired, had been discharged from the Sikh regiment in June 1970 on medical grounds. During a night training exercise, he fell on his head and lost his eyesight.

He was initially sanctioned 40 per cent disability pension by the Army, which was rejected by the Medical Adviser on Pension (MAP) in the office of the Controller of Defence Accounts (Pension). The post of MAP was abolished in 2005.

He approached the Ex-Servicemen Grievance Cell, Mohali, for taking up his matter for the release of the pension. A case was filed before the Armed Forces Tribunal, which, in August 2018, ordered the release of the pension as sanctioned by the Army earlier, but the Army contested the order of the tribunal.

The cell filed a case of contempt for non-implementation of the order of the tribunal and in June 2019, pension payment orders were issued for Rs265 per month for 40 per cent disability with effect from June 1970 along with arrears as well as instruction for holding a review medical board within two years.

The medical board took place in February 2020, where Mohinder’s disability for visual impairment was reassessed at 100 per cent. Besides increase in pension to Rs33,500 per month, he also got arrears regarding the new pension for the past 16 months with interest last week. —TNS

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