Armed Forces Tribunal
Lt Col Hardat Singh Kaswan (Retd) vs UOI & Others on 22 April 2026
**ARMED FORCES TRIBUNAL, REGIONAL BENCH, JAIPUR**
**7.
OA 300/2024**
**NTR-16738F Lt Col Hardat Singh Kaswan (Retd), S/o Shri Bhuru Ram Kaswan, Resident of Village and Post Munshri, Tehsil Bhadra, District Hanumangarh, Rajasthan – 335 504**
** .... Applicant**
**Versus**
1. 1. UOI, through the Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Kartavya Path, E Block, Central Sectt, New Delhi – 110 011
2. 2. The Director General Medical Services (Army), IHQ of MoD (Army), third Floor, A Block, Defence Officers Complex, KG Marg, New Delhi – 110 001
3. 3. The Chief Controller of Defence Accounts (PCDA Pension), Draupadi Ghat, Prayagraj, UP – 211 014
4. 4. The Chief Controller of Defence Accounts, PCDA (O), Golibar Maidan, Pune, Maharashtra – 411 001
** .... Respondents**
**For Applicant**
**: Mr. Puneet, Advocate**
**For Respondents**
**: Mr. Sudesh Chand Sharma, Advocate**
**CORAM:**
**HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE GOVERDHAN BARDHAR, MEMBER (J)**
**HON'BLE MR. SANJIV MITTAL, MEMBER (A)**
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**ORDER**
**22.04.2026**
1. Under Section 14 of the Armed Forces Tribunal Act 2007, the applicant has filed this OA praying for quashing and setting aside the impugned letters of the Respondents by which the demand of the applicant for grant of one notional increment has been rejected. He further prayed for grant of one yearly notional increment and revise his pay/pension wef 01/1/2022.
2. Brief facts of the case as enunciated by the applicant are that the applicant was commissioned in the army on 07/4/2006 and retired from service on 31/12/2021. He further submitted that the case of the applicant is squarely covered by the Judgment of the Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of P Ayyamperumal Vs UOI & Ors. Having been aggrieved, the applicant has filed this OA, praying for relief.
3. We have heard the counsels for the parties and perused the material on record.
4. The Respondents have not filed their Reply Statement in this matter so far. However, we deem it appropriate to dispose off this OA in the light of the Judgment passed by the Hon'ble Apex Court and subsequent policy letter issued by the Department of Personnel on the matter of grant of one notional increment on 01<sup>st</sup> Jan of the year provided the individual had completed one year of qualifying service from the last increment but the same could not be granted as he retired a day prior to such date of increment. This Tribunal has also disposed off a number of cases in the recent past.
5. It is not known whether the applicant fulfils the conditions for grant of notional increment as no details have been provided in the OA filed by him, nor a reply thereto has been filed by the Respondents. However, since a policy letter has been issued to grant notional increment in case an individual fulfils certain conditions, viz, completion of one full year of service after he was granted last increment but retired one day prior to earning his increment on 01<sup>st</sup> January or 01<sup>st</sup> July, as the case may be.
6. The Respondents are, therefore, directed to grant relief as prayed for in the OA, if admissible to the applicant, in terms of Judgment passed by the Hon'ble Apex Court and subsequent policy letter issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Personnel and Training OM No 19/116/2024-Pers.Pol. (Pay)(Pt) dated 14/10/2024. The arrears, if any, shall be paid to the applicant within a period of six months from the date of receipt of a copy of this Order, failing which, the applicant shall be entitled to receive interest @6%pa on the arrears amount till the actual date of payment.
7. The OA is disposed off accordingly. No order on costs.
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सत्यमेव जयते
Sd/-XXX
Sd/-XXX
(SANJIV MITTAL) MEMBER (A)
cda/-
(GOVERDHAN BARDHAR) MEMBER (J)
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