Govt notification on army disability pensions set to be challenged

The government has notified a new set of rules for disability pensions for the armed forces, a move that came in for criticism from the opposition parties and the security establishment.

Amid the persisting political debate over the September 29 surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LoC), the government has decided to reduce the disability pension of defence forces personnel.

As per the new rules, a civilian employee will have higher disability pension than his military counterpart. (PTI Photo)

Soldiers invalidated out of service after being crippled with “100% disability” will now get a monthly “war injury pay” of Rs 27,200 against the earlier sum of Rs 45,200, the September 30 notification of the ministry of defence states.

For officers in the rank of Majors with 10 years experience, who have suffered “100% disabilities”, the allowance has been slashed by over Rs 70,000 a month. Junior Commissioned Officers in the rank of Naib Subedars with 26 years of service will now find their disability pensions sliced by as much as Rs 40,000.

“Such notifications are meaningless, given that the three service chiefs have not issued special orders to implement the recommendations of the 7 th Pay Commission until the anomalies are addressed. The notification will be challenged in the court”, Lt. Gen Vijay Oberoi, injured in the 1965 war, said.

A soldier of five years of service with 100% disability was earlier entitled to an allowance matching his monthly salary of Rs 30,400. Now, he will get Rs 12,000 a month.