NEW DELHI, Mar 20:
The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Centre to clear all One Rank One Pension(OROP) arrears totalling Rs 28,000 crore for ex-servicemen by February 28 next year, saying the Government is duty-bound to comply with its 2022 judgement on the matter.
A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud took note of the financial difficulties pointed out by the Centre in paying the entire Rs 28,000 crore OROP dues in one go, and laid down the schedule to the Ministry of Defence to pay the arrears to the ex-servicemen, categorised under several heads. It noted that out of 25 lakh Defence pensioners, four lakh did not qualify for the OROP scheme as they were getting enhanced pensions.
During the hearing, it also took strong note of the Centre’s sealed cover report giving details on the payment of the OROP dues to retired military personnel, saying it wanted to “put an end to this sealed cover procedure” which is “fundamentally contrary to the basic principle of fair process in a court of law”.(PTI)
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