Punjab and Haryana HC fines defence secretary, Army chief ₹2 lakh after delay in ex-Major’s disability pension: Report

The article reporting the High Court’s penalty against the Defence Secretary and Army Chief was published, noting the ₹2 lakh penalty and its distribution as described in the April 30 order.

Justice Sudeepti Sharma ordered that, due to non-compliance, a cost of ₹2 lakh be imposed and paid to the petitioner, to be equally deducted from the salaries of both officials, as a final opportunity for compliance.

The High Court disposed of Pandere’s petition in his favour, but the pension was still not granted; a contempt plea was subsequently filed against the Defence Secretary and the Army Chief.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed the Union government’s challenge to the Tribunal’s order.

The Chandigarh Bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal noted that Major Pandere’s disability had consistently been found attributable to service, and, under the Guide to Medical Officers (Military Pensions), 2008, disability should be assessed at 40% (rounded to 50% for life) effective July 1, 2022.

His request for disability pension was rejected on November 23, 2022.

Pandere was released from service on September 14, 2022 after 10 years of service.

He was assessed by the Release Medical Board on September 2, 2022, which recommended release in a low medical category, but disability was assessed at 15% for life and declared neither attributable to nor aggravated by military service, with no reasons cited.

Following surgery, Pandere was placed in a low medical category on September 19, 2017.

During service, he developed a medical condition and was examined at Delhi Cantonment Base Hospital, where he was diagnosed with cystitis cystica glandularis.

Major Rajdeep Dinkar Pandere was commissioned into the Indian Army on September 15, 2012.