The apex court urged the Attorney General to file a note regarding the recent developments in the case (File/News18)
A three-judge bench headed by CJI DY Chandrachud expressed displeasure over the recent communication from the Union Defense Ministry and urged them to withdraw it.
The Supreme Court on Monday expressed concern over non-payment of pension to armed forces personnel. This is the second time the SC has taken cognizance of the matter in the last month.
A three-judge bench headed by CJI DY Chandrachud expressed displeasure over the recent communication from the Union Defense Ministry and urged them to withdraw it.
The Supreme Court observed that the Defense Ministry cannot take law into its own hands by issuing letters to pay arrears of One Rank-One Pension (OROP) in four instalments.
CJI Chandrachud said, ‘Our concern is that ex-servicemen should get their salaries. It is sad that 4 lakh personnel have died so far.”
Attorney General R Venkataramani said the Center has paid one installment of OROP dues to ex-servicemen, but some more time is needed for further payments.
“First withdraw the January 20 notification on payment of OROP dues, then we will consider your application for time,” the bench told Venkataramani.
The apex court urged the Attorney General to file a note regarding the recent developments and inquired about the developments so far.
The top court asked the Defense Ministry to withdraw its letter dated January 20 regarding payment of OROP dues to eligible pensioners of the armed forces.
SC hearing in February
Last month, the Supreme Court had pulled up the Defense Ministry on the same issue when a bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala heard the matter.
JB Pardiwala, Additional Solicitor General N. Venkataraman: “Here, you are not fighting a war. Here, you are fighting a battle under the rule of law, you better get your house in order. This is not the way for the Ministry of Defense to go about it.”
The Chief Justice had said: “You tell the Secretary that we will take action against him for releasing that communication on January 20, he withdraws it before the next date… The sanctity of the judicial process has to be maintained. Either the Secretary withdraws that communication or we will issue a notice of contempt… You have no right to take law into your hands”.
Centre’s ‘formula’
In March last year, the apex court had ruled on a petition filed by the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM) through advocate Balaji Srinivasan against the Centre’s formula.
The top court had on January 9 given the Center time till March 15 to pay the total OROP dues to all eligible pensioners of the armed forces.
Later, the government moved the apex court seeking extension of time till March 15 for payment of OROP scheme dues to all eligible pensioners of the armed forces.
(With IANS inputs)
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