B V RAO Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner was enrolled in the Army as a combatant Soldier on 5.6.1981. The petitioner was thoroughly examined and subjected to various medical and physical tests. Having found him fit in all respects he was inducted into service. The petitioner after having completed his basic military service was posted as a trained soldier with 28, Air Defence Regiment. The regiment of the petitioner was placed at outstations, however, in July 1984 the petitioner started having health problems and he reported to medical authorities of the Army for treatment. The petitioner was admitted to military hospital, Jamnagar, but he could not be cured and was subsequently diagnosed as a case of 'Neurosis'. The Invalidating Medical Board determined the disability of the petitioner to be 40% and recommended that the petitioner should be invalided out from service. The Commanding Officer of the petitioner was not able to provide any alternative or sheltered appointment to the petitioner and on 18.8.1985, it has been recorded that the petitioner was discharged, having been invalided out of the service by the Medical Board. According to the petitioner, he would be entitled to receive disability pension as the disability suffered by the petitioner during service was 40% and was attributable to and/or aggravated by the military service. The Specialist has noticed that no history of childhood illness except for an attack of fit when he was 7 years old. It was also recorded that there is no family history of mental illness. In fact, it is noticed that he and one of his friend ran from home and got themselves enrolled in the Army and their families were not very happy with their joining the same.

(2.) The claim of the petitioner has been opposed by the respondents on the ground that though the disability claim of the petitioner was forwarded to PCDA (Pension) Allahabad, but the said Authority in consultation with Medical Advisor (Pension) attached to their Office rejected the claim as the Invaliding disability of the petition i.e. 'NEUROSIS CONVERSION REACTION' was neither attributable to nor aggravated by the service conditions. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner while relying upon the judgment in the case of Ex. Cfn. Sugna Ram Ranoliya vs. Union of India and Ors. 132 (2006) DLT 544 (DB) argued that the disability would be deemed to be attributable to and/or aggravated by the military service.

(3.) No doubt the proceedings of the Invalidating Medical Board as placed on record shows the disability of the petitioner as 30% for 2 years as on 28.4.2005. The Medical Board further described the disability of the petitioner as 'Constitutional' and 'not attributable to and/or aggravated by the Military Service'. The opinion of the expert classified Specialist (Psychiatry) while referring to the history of the petitioner observed as under:-