First Decision of Armed Forces Tribunal in Punjab: Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Dear Veterans,

Regards. Find below the First decision taken by Armed Forces Tribunal

in Punjab. With this we can hope to get justice in the days to come.

First Decision of AFT Punjab.

AFT directs revision of Brigadier’s pension :Vijay Mohan-

Tribune News Service.

Chandigarh, November 23. Within a week of being established,

the Chandigarh Bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT)

today disposed of the first case that came up before it, with

directions to the government for revising the pension of

a Brigadier in accordance with new scales.
The petitioner, Brig Raghu Kapoor, was getting pension at

old rates that already stood abolished. Consequently,

according to him, his retrial benefits amounting to over

Rs 20 lakh were held up.
Acting upon the petition (OA-1 of 2009), the AFT Bench

comprising Justice Ghanshyam Prashad and Lieut-Gen NS Brar

directed the Central Government as well as the

Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions) to undertake

the necessary revisions within three months. The Bench also

directed that a compliance report be forwarded to it for its

information.
Brigadier Kapoor had contended that at the time of his retirement,

He was drawing emoluments in accordance with the scales laid

down by the Sixth Pay Commission. His pension, however,

was fixed as per the old Fifth Pay Commission rates. According to

the petition, he was supposed to draw a basic pension of

Rs 34,000 per month, but was getting just Rs 16,000.

This has also affected his gratuity, pension arrears and

commutation value.
He said though about a year had lapsed since the new scales

were brought into effect and he had retired a few months after

the said notification was issued, his pension was fixed incorrectly.

He had taken up the matter with the authorities concerned,

both personally and through the Department of Sainik Welfare,

Punjab, but no action was taken.
In fact, armed forces personnel who had retired during the period

when the Fifth Pay Commission rates were in vogue have already

been placed on the Sixth Pay Commission rates.

Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

President,

Indian Ex-Services League,Punjab & Chandigarh.

Mob.098554-09128,Telefax.0175-5000896.