Vanshika Bhalla
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on January 22, 2025 has directed the Army and the Central Government to pay an additional 15% interest on delayed war injury pension arrears to Captain Reet MP Singh, a decorated 1965 Indo-Pak War veteran, after authorities unnecessarily challenged a tribunal ruling in his favour.
Captain Singh was awarded the Vir Chakra for bravery in the Khemkaran sector, lost an eye and sustained 80% disability in a tank skirmish. Despite his sacrifice, he was denied enhanced disability benefits under the ‘broad-banding‘ policy introduced in 1996. Initially, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) limited these benefits to post-1996 invalidation cases, excluding earlier retirees. The Supreme Court later struck down this distinction, ruling that all eligible disabled retirees were entitled to arrears from 1996 with 8% interest.
Despite clear judicial instructions, authorities delayed payments, prompting repeated Court interventions. The Bench of Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma and Justice Meenakshi I. Mehta criticized the prolonged litigation and ordered additional interest, recoverable from officials responsible for the delay.
The Court’s directive underscores the need for timely and respectful treatment of war veterans’ claims, emphasizing that those who have served the nation deserve dignity, not prolonged legal battles.
Case Name: Union of India and Ors. v. Capt. Reet MP Singh (Retd.) and Ors.
Case Number: CWP-1590-2025 (O&M)
Bench: Justices Sanjeev Prakash Sharma and Meenakshi I. Mehta