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Ram Das Singh v. Union Of India
Factual and Procedural Background
The applicant, who was enrolled in the Corps of Signals on 25.08.1962 and discharged on 01.09.1984 after 22 years of service in the rank of Havildar, was granted the honorary rank of Naib Subedar post-retirement. The applicant filed the Original Application under Section 14 of the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007, seeking pension benefits applicable to honorary Naib Subedars who retired on or after 01.01.2006, as per the 6th Central Pay Commission recommendations. The respondents denied this claim, leading to the present application. There was a delay of 3 years, 1 month, and 6 days in filing the OA, which was satisfactorily explained and condoned by the Tribunal. The OA was admitted for hearing.
Legal Issues Presented
- Whether pre-01.01.2006 retirees granted honorary rank of Naib Subedar are entitled to pension at the enhanced rate applicable to post-01.01.2006 retirees as per the 6th Central Pay Commission recommendations?
- Whether interest is payable on the enhanced pension arrears in such cases?
Arguments of the Parties
The opinion does not contain a detailed account of the parties' legal arguments.
Table of Precedents Cited
| Precedent | Rule or Principle Cited For | Application by the Court |
|---|---|---|
| Virender Singh v. Union of India, O.A. No. 42 of 2010 (Armed Forces Tribunal, Regional Bench, Chandimandir) | Pre-01.01.2006 retirees are entitled to enhanced pension rates effective from 01.01.2006, similar to post-01.01.2006 retirees. | The court found this precedent directly applicable and binding, as the respondents did not dispute it. |
| Union of India v. Subbash Chander Soni, Civil Appeal No. 4677 of 2014 (Supreme Court, decided 20.05.2015) | Affirmed entitlement to enhanced pension but clarified that no interest shall be payable on arrears. | The court relied on this judgment to clarify that while enhanced pension is payable, no interest on arrears is admissible. |
Court's Reasoning and Analysis
The court examined the undisputed facts that the applicant was granted honorary rank of Naib Subedar after retirement and sought pension benefits as per the 6th Central Pay Commission recommendations effective from 01.01.2006. It noted the binding precedent set by the Armed Forces Tribunal in Virender Singh’s case, which was upheld by the Supreme Court, entitling pre-2006 retirees to enhanced pension rates. The court further relied on the Supreme Court’s decision in Union of India v. Subbash Chander Soni, which settled the matter and clarified that no interest would be payable on pension arrears. Applying these principles, the court concluded that the applicant is entitled to the enhanced pension but without interest on arrears, subject to verification of the applicant’s honorary rank status.
Holding and Implications
DISPOSED OF
The court directed the respondents to release the enhanced service pension to the applicant in the rank of Naib Subedar effective from 01.01.2006 within four months from receipt of the certified copy of the order. This direction is subject to verification of the applicant’s conferment of honorary rank. No interest shall be payable on the arrears; however, if payment is delayed beyond the stipulated period, arrears will carry interest at 9% per annum from the due date until actual payment. The decision directly benefits the applicant by granting the enhanced pension but does not establish any new precedent beyond affirming existing authoritative rulings.
1. The instant Original Application has been filed by the applicant under Section 14 of the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007 for grant of pension of Hony Naib Subedar.
2. As per office report, there is a delay of 03 years, 01 months and 06 days in filing the present OA. The delay has been satisfactorily explained. Accordingly, the delay in filing the OA is condoned. The OA is admitted for hearing.
3. We have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record.
4. Undisputed factual matrix of the case is that the applicant was enrolled in the Corps of Signals on 25.08.1962 and was discharged on 01.09.1984 after completing 22 years of service in the rank of Havildar. After discharge, he was granted honorary rank of Naib Subedar. Grievance of the applicant is that he should be given pension as applicable to the rank of Hony Naib Subedars retired on or after 01.01.2006 as per recommendations of 6 Central Pay Commission. This claim having been denied by the respondents, the present Original Application has been filed.
5. We find that the controversy involved in the Present O.A. is squarely covered by the decision of Armed Forces Tribunal, Regional Bench, Chandimandir in O.A. No. 42 of 2010, Virender Singh v. Union of India dated 08.02.2010 which attained finality with dismissal of the SLP (C) CC No. 18582 of 2010, titled UOI v. Virender Singh on 13.12.2010 by Hon'ble The Apex Court. This fact could not be disputed by the learned counsel for the respondents. In that case it has been held that pre 01.01.2006 retirees will also be entitled to get pension at the enhanced rate w.e.f. 01.01.2006, as is being paid to post 01.01.2006 retirees.
6. We further take note of the fact that the matter has been finally settled by Hon'ble The Apex court in Union of India v. Subbash Chander Soni, Civil Appeal No. 4677 of 2014, decided on 20.05.2015 and a clarification has been given that no interest shall be payable in such cases. For the sake of convenience, the said judgment is reproduced below:—
“In the Supreme Court of India
Civil Appellate jurisdiction
Civil appeal No. 4677 of 2014
Union of India & Ors. Appellant(s)
v.
Subhash Chander Soni Respondent(s)
From the reading of the impugned judgment of the Armed Forces Tribunal, it gets revealed that the Tribunal has relied upon its earlier judgment dated 08.02.2010 rendered in O.A. No. 42 of 2010 titled ‘Virender Singh v. U.O.I.’, where identical relief was granted to the petitioners therein who were similarly situated. Further, we note that against the said judgment of the Tribunal, SLP (C) CC No. 18582 of 2010 was preferred which was dismissed by this Court on 13.12.2010. We further find that by the impugned judgment, the Tribunal had decided 35 O.A.s and the Union of India has preferred the instant appeal only in one of those 35 cases. For all these reasons, we are not inclined to entertain this appeal, which is dismissed accordingly. We, however, clarify that no interest shall be payable.
Two months, time is granted to the appellants to comply with the impugned judgment passed by the High Court.
Sd/-[Hon'ble Mr. Justice A.K. Sikri]
Sd/-[Hon'ble Mr. justice Uday Umesh Lalit]
Date: 06.03.2015
May 20, 2015”
7. Admittedly, the applicant has been granted honorary rank of Naib Subedar after retirement, hence he is entitled for pension of the rank of Naib Subedar.
8. Accordingly, we dispose of the present petition in terms of the above judgments with a direction to the respondents to release the enhanced service pension to the applicant in the rank of Naib Subedar w.e.f. 01.01.2006 within a period of four months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order. However, this shall be subject to further verification by the respondents of the factual pleadings on record with respect to conferment of status of Hon Nb Subedar on the applicant. It is further made clear that no interest shall be admissible and payable to the applicant in this regard. In case this order is not complied with within the stipulated period, the amount of arrears shall carry interest @ 9% per annum from the due date, till actual payment thereof.
9. No order as to costs.
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