Grant pension to 80 year old soldier (reservist) living in an Old Age Home : HC

Ex-Reservist Harjinder Singh of the Corps of Signals, a veteran of two wars, retired in 1967 after putting in more than 17 years of combined colour and reserve service in the Army. During those times, an individual was entitled to receive 'reservist pension' after putting in a total of 15 years colour and reserve service in accordance with Regulation 155 of the Pension Regulations for the Army. The said pension was refused to this old soldier on the pretext that at the time of his discharge, there was a clause which prohibited the grant of reservist pension to individuals seeking discharge on own request. Harjinder Singh in 1967, was forced to seek discharge on own request since his terms of engagement were unilaterally changed from 15 years to 20 years during the course of his service so he had no option but to put in his papers after 15 years which was the length for which he had agreed to be recruited.

The Hon'ble Punjab & Haryana High Court has however held that refusal of pension to this old soldier on the ground of voluntary retirement is 'inexcusable' and has directed the Govt to release his pension to him. In this case too, the Army had time and again taken up the issue with the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions) [PCDA(P)] who did not agree with the Army and rejected the pension claim of this old soldier who is all alone living in an old age home in Chandigarh. A long fight but a fruitful one....