Army Pension Row: Supreme Court Pulls Up Centre, Demands Policy

New Delhi, January 30, 2025 – The Supreme Court has sharply condemned the Central Government for repeatedly mounting appeals against disability pension awards granted by the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) to retired military personnel. The bench led by Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan asked the government to exercise discretion in appeals against such judgments.

The bench held that the military personnel who have served for 15 to 20 years and suffer from disabilities should not be forced into prolonged legal battles to receive their rightful pensions. The justices called upon the Union Government to formulate a clear policy to prevent unnecessary litigation against retired armed forces personnel.

Justice Oka underlined that frivolous appeals result in the breakdown of the morale of service members, as it bars veterans from other judicial redress after the tribunal delivers a favorable decision.

The Supreme Court has ordered the Union Government to file a concrete policy framework by April 3, 2025. This directive, therefore, reveals the concern of the judiciary toward the welfare of retired defense forces and administrative reforms in handling the grievances effectively.