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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Union government to make staggered payments of ‘one rank, one pension(OROP) arrears to ex-servicemen by February 28, 2024.
The SC allowed the Union government to go far staggered payments of arrears as the Centre said it faced a huge outgo of Rs 28,000 crore and payment of it at one go could have serious implications for the defence management.
The SC ordered that OROP arrears since 2019 would be payable to those earning family pension and gallantry award winners (total 6 lakh persons) by March 30; to more than 70 year-old ex-servicemen (around 4 lakh) by June 30; and rest (10-11 lakhs) in on August 31, November 30 and February 28, 2024.
CJI DY Chandrachud-led bench said though it was upset with the unilateral letter by defence ministry for payment of OROP arrears in installments in breach of the SC judgment to pay by Mar 15, on perusing the difficulties, it feels the national interest must not be lost sight of.
Earlier, the apex court refused to accept the Centre’s sealed cover note about its views on the payment of ‘one rank, one pension’ arrears to ex-service personnel.
“We need to put an end to this sealed cover practice in the Supreme Court… This is fundamentally contrary to basic process of fair justice,” said a bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala.
“I am personally averse to sealed covers. There has to be transparency in court… This is about implementing orders. What can be secret here,” the CJI said.
(With inputs from agencies)
The SC allowed the Union government to go far staggered payments of arrears as the Centre said it faced a huge outgo of Rs 28,000 crore and payment of it at one go could have serious implications for the defence management.
The SC ordered that OROP arrears since 2019 would be payable to those earning family pension and gallantry award winners (total 6 lakh persons) by March 30; to more than 70 year-old ex-servicemen (around 4 lakh) by June 30; and rest (10-11 lakhs) in on August 31, November 30 and February 28, 2024.
CJI DY Chandrachud-led bench said though it was upset with the unilateral letter by defence ministry for payment of OROP arrears in installments in breach of the SC judgment to pay by Mar 15, on perusing the difficulties, it feels the national interest must not be lost sight of.
Earlier, the apex court refused to accept the Centre’s sealed cover note about its views on the payment of ‘one rank, one pension’ arrears to ex-service personnel.
“We need to put an end to this sealed cover practice in the Supreme Court… This is fundamentally contrary to basic process of fair justice,” said a bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala.
“I am personally averse to sealed covers. There has to be transparency in court… This is about implementing orders. What can be secret here,” the CJI said.
(With inputs from agencies)
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