Army pension row: SC pulls up Centre for 'dragging' retired personnel to court, asks for policy

The top court was hearing an appeal filed by the Centre challenging order of the tribunal, which granted disability pension to a retired radio fitter.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday slammed the central government for filing a frivolous appeal against a retired army personnel, who worked for more than 15 years in the force, and asked it to devise a policy in connection with their disability pension cases.

A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan criticised the centre for challenging the Armed Forces Tribunal order in the apex court, saying each and every member of the armed forces who was awarded relief of disability pension need not be dragged to the top court.

The court was hearing an appeal filed by the Centre challenging the order of the Armed Forces Tribunal, which granted disability pension to a retired radio fitter.

The AFT had granted disability pension order in the case.

The court asked the Centre to take  a humanitarian approach and exercise some discretion in filing the appeals. 

"There has to be some pragmatic view. An army personnel works for 15 to 20 years and suppose there is some disability, and order of the Armed Forces Tribunal directs payment of disability pension. Why should these persons be dragged to the Supreme Court," the bench asked.

Observing that "frivolous appeals" were being filed by the Centre, the apex court said the morale of the armed forces couldn't be let down by filing such pleas against the relief.

The apex court asked the Centre to come up with some plans, policies and ways and means for retired army personnel or it would impose cost on frivolous petitions.