Court cases by ex servicemen: Govt reply in Rajya Sabha

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  DEFENCE

RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2225

ANSWERED ON-12.02.2014

Court cases by ex servicemen

2225 . SHRIMATI WANSUK SYIEM

(a) whether the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW) of the Ministry of Defence has ruled that ex-servicemen who take the Ministry to Court for disability and pension benefits would have to fight their own cases all the way to Supreme Court;

(b) whether in the past, several impoverished ex-servicemen have abandoned their cases unable to continue the endless battle against top Government lawyers which the Ministry hires at tax payers’ expense; and

(c) whether the DESW is burdened with a large number of judgements against the Ministry that require implementation, after DESW has exhausted all its legal re-courses?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE (SHRI JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) to (c): Government is sensitive to the concerns of Ex-Servicemen with regard to pension matters and there is no intention to prolong litigation in such cases. However, in certain cases where it is necessary, the decision to appeal is taken after detailed deliberations and in consultation with the Ministry of Law. Once such a case reaches legal finality, it is implemented.