The Indian Ex-servicemen Movement (IESM) wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and defence minister Arun Jaitley for not filing appeals against disable soldiers. In a letter written by Maj Gen Satbir Singh, who heads the Gurgaon-based IESM, it was pointed out that many such cases were against the concept of broad-banding of disability percentage of disabled soldiers who were released from service on completion of tenure or superannuation. “Though the issue is now squarely covered by a judgment of the Supreme Court (Capt KJS Buttar Vs UOI, March 31, 2011), the government is still filing fresh appeals and not withdrawing pending appeals,” the letter said.
The letter also pointed out that a review petition filed by the UPA government was dismissed on January 21, wrapping up the issue once and for all.
By creating an artificial distinction and by looking for excuses, the ministry of defence was continuing with the earlier UPA policy of forcing disabled military veterans to visit the Court to sort out this issue, the letter read. It pointed out that Modi’s intentions and the contents of the BJP manifesto were not known to law officers re presenting the cur rent government in the Supreme Court. It pointed out that Modi had made it known public that he was against the massive amount of litigation initiated by the defence ministry against its own disabled soldiers.
The letter added, “We have high hopes that the current government will look after the welfare and morale of our soldiers and veterans, and it would legally correct to initiate withdrawal of all such unprincipled litigation, that would boost the spirit of our soldiers and their families, rather than weaken it.”
{{/usCountry}}The letter added, “We have high hopes that the current government will look after the welfare and morale of our soldiers and veterans, and it would legally correct to initiate withdrawal of all such unprincipled litigation, that would boost the spirit of our soldiers and their families, rather than weaken it.”
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