SangsLegal News A soldier is unable to seek disability pension based on a medical examination conducted many years after their discharge: Supreme Court

The eligibility criteria for disability pension under Rule 14 of the Entitlement Rules for Casualty Pensionary Awards, 1982 were further clarified by the Supreme Court that simply proving the occurrence of a service-related ailment or disability is insufficient to qualify for the pension. According to the Supreme Court, to qualify for disability pension, it is essential to provide medical evidence confirming that the disability occurred during the individual's service tenure. Additionally, it must be proved that the conditions of military duty were responsible for the development of the illness and that these conditions were directly linked to the circumstances involved in military service.