MAJOR PIYUSH SHANDILYA Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr Sawaikar, learned Counsel appearing under the Legal Aid Scheme on behalf of the Petitioner and Mr Somnath Karpe, Central Government Standing Counsel, who appears along with Mr Abhishek Sawant, for the Respondents.

(2.) By our order dtd. 19/7/2023, we had clarified that this petition would be disposed of at the admission stage. Accordingly, we issue Rule and make the Rule returnable immediately.

(3.) The Petitioner, a retired Major in the Indian Army, is now being made to run from pillar to post by the Respondents for availing the benefit of a disability pension @ 30% for life. This involves the issue of a pension payment order (PPO), based upon which the Petitioner not only gets the pension but further, and most importantly, the Petitioner can secure medical treatment from Military establishments. This benefit is being denied to the Petitioner, even though the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT), by its order dtd. 22/12/2022, issued clear directions to the Respondents to issue such PPO within four months from the date of the order.