Preet Pal Singh vs Union of India on 23 October 2026

ORDER

The applicant superannuated on 31.01.2025. He was in a Permanent Low Medical Category on account of disabilities of (a) ‘Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Disorder with Radiculopathy’, the extent of which was assessed to be 07% for life and attributable to military service and (b) ‘Essential Primary Hypertension’, the extent of which was assessed to be 20% for life but neither attributable to nor aggravated by military service. Claim for grant of disability element has been rejected because the extent of disability (a) was assessed to be less than 20% and regarding disability (b), recommendation was made that the same was neither attributable to nor aggravated by military service because onset thereof was in a modified field area. Learned counsel for the applicant has submitted that so far as disability (a) is concerned, the extent thereof had been assessed to be 20% by Categorization Medical Board dated 01.05.2019 (Annexure A-8). The Release Medical Board could not have assessed it differently without taking into consideration the earlier finding. Regarding the disability (b), he placed

OA 949 of 2026

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reliance upon judgment dated 06.12.2024 passed by the Regional Bench, Chandigarh in OA No.861 of 2022, Ex.MWO Bhupinder Singh Vs Union of India and others, to submit that even if the disability arose while posted in a peace area, the same could not have held to be neither attributable to nor aggravated by military service. Thus, the applicant is entitled to grant of disability element for both disabilities. Notice.

Mr. JS Lalli, DSGI, accepts notice on behalf of the respondents and waives service and seeks time to file reply. Adjourned to 09.04.2027.

(Lt Gen (Dr) Ranbir Singh)

(Justice Sudhir Mittal) Member (A)

Member (J)

23rd Oct, 2026 AKB