CDS Gen Anil Chauhan on new disability pension rules, says ‘no retrospective application... eligible for those who…'

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan said that Centre's new disability pension-related rules for soldiers will have no retrospective application. Speaking at at press conference alongside the Navy and Air Force chiefs, Gen Chauhan said there is no change in the entitlement for any category of persons being granted compensation for death or disability.

"The first and most important thing is that the provisions of this entitlement rule will be applicable to those persons who retire after September 21, 2023. There is no retrospective application," the CDS General said.

Asserting that the disability pension-related rules have been revised to protect genuine soldiers' requirements, he added that, “A study was to protect the genuine interest of the personnel who acquired disability during service while preventing the exploitation of its liberal provisions from misuse.”

"Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels 🚀 Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here!

"There is no change in the entitlement for any category of persons being granted compensation for death or disability," he added.

When asked about the possibility of 'misuse' of these revised disability pension rules, CDS General Anil Chauhan told news agency ANI that, "I can only say that these rules are slightly clearer and the possibility of its misuse if I may use the word becomes less. So hopefully there will be fewer court cases. And, better synergy amongst all ranks of the armed forces."

The CDS general was also asked about the concerns which were raised by ex-servicemen regarding the newly revised eligibility criteria for disability pension rules. Answering it, he said that a meeting of recognised ex-servicemen organizations was called on October 3 and their doubts were clarified.

"The revised rules were uploaded by the Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare on September 21. And, a large number of people may not have understood the exact implications of these rules. So we called recognised ex-servicemen organizations on October 3. So most of them were concerned about the benefits which are entitled to them that they will be taken away. So this apprehension was there in the minds of ex-servicemen. They were clarified," CDS said.

"And most of them were satisfied. Most of these apprehensions that emerged during that meeting were turned into frequently asked questions (FAQs). And last night, these FAQs were uploaded on the Department of Ex-servicemen welfare website," he added.

What does the new disability pension rules state?

As per the official statement issued by the Defence Ministry, “The ER has been revised/ updated with the aim to streamline the procedure followed for assessment and entitlement without any ambiguity to avoid litigation. All deaths and disabilities reported/ recorded after September will be governed by ER 2023 and GMO 2023.”

It also said that new entitlement rules do not in any way affect past pensioners and family Pensioners already in receipt of death/ disability compensation/ Family Pension.

Ministry in a statement said that the armed Forces personnel who are retained in service despite a disability held attributable to or aggravated by military service post conduct of Retention cum Impairment Assessment Medical Board are eligible to be awarded 'Capitalized Impairment Relief' on foregoing which they become eligible for the award of monthly 'Impairment Relief' at the time of his retirement/ discharge.

"This 'Impairment Relief' may be paid in addition to Retiring Pension/ Gratuity (Officers) or Service Pension/ Gratuity (PBORs), as per their length of qualifying service. 'Impairment Relief' is the same as the erstwhile 'Disability Element' currently awarded to personnel retiring/ released/ discharged. The name has been changed to distinguish it from 'Disability Element' of 'Disability Pension', awarded to personnel invalided from service," an official statement said. 

(With inputs from ANI)