In a significant ruling, the Delhi High Court has clarified that disability pension for a military officer suffering from blood pressure issues cannot be denied simply by labeling primary hypertension as a lifestyle disorder. The court made this observation while rejecting the Union government's challenge to an Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) order that upheld a retired Indian Air Force (IAF) officer's entitlement to the pension.
Court's Emphasis on Individual Assessment
The bench, comprising Justices V Kameswar Rao and Manmeet P S Arora, emphasized that lifestyle varies from individual to individual. They stated, "It must be noted that lifestyle varies from individual to individual. Hence, a mere statement that the disease is a lifestyle disorder cannot be a sufficient reason to deny the grant of disability pension unless the medical board has duly examined and recorded the particulars relevant to the individual concerned." This highlights the need for personalized medical evaluation rather than blanket categorizations.
Background of the Case
The officer in question joined the IAF in October 1981 and was discharged from service in March 2019. Upon retirement, he claimed disability pension for his hypertension condition. However, the Centre opposed this claim, arguing that the officer developed the disability in a peace area and that it was neither attributable to nor aggravated by military service. This led to a legal battle that eventually reached the Delhi High Court.
Medical Board's Oversight Criticized
The court pointed out that the medical board failed to provide adequate reasoning for categorizing hypertension as a lifestyle disorder. "The medical board must record its reasons and findings while discharging the onus placed upon it," the court remarked. This underscores the importance of transparency and detailed documentation in medical assessments for disability claims.
Implications for Military Personnel
This ruling sets a precedent for similar cases, ensuring that military personnel are not unfairly denied benefits based on generalized labels. Key takeaways include:
- Individual medical examination is crucial for disability pension decisions.
- Hypertension cannot be dismissed as merely a lifestyle disorder without proper assessment.
- The medical board must justify its classifications with recorded evidence.
The decision reinforces the rights of veterans and serving personnel to fair treatment under disability pension schemes, potentially impacting future claims and medical board practices across the armed forces.
