UNION OF INDIA & ORS. vs EX MWO ANOOP SINGH MANDERNA 639870

Judgment text excerpt

$~82 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 16692/2024 & CM APPL. 70613/2024 UNION OF INDIA & ORS. .....Petitioners Through: Mr. Shankar Kumar Jha, SPC versus EX MWO ANOOP SINGH MANDERNA 639870 .....Respondent Through: Mr. Bijendra Kumar Pathak, Adv. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C. HARI SHANKAR HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE OM PRAKASH SHUKLA JUDGMENT (ORAL) % 19.08.2025 C. HARI SHANKAR, J. 1. This petition assails order dated 20 April 2023 passed by the Armed Forces Tribunal1 in OA 967/2022 whereby the respondent’s application for grant of disability pension on the ground that he suffers from Primary Hypertension with 30% disability, rounded off to 50% for life have been allowed by the AFT. 2. The issue is covered by a recent decision rendered by us in UOI v Ex Sub Gawas Anil Madso2. 3. Nonetheless, we have heard Mr. Shankar Kumar Jha, learned 1 “the AFT”, hereinafter W.P.(C) 16692/2024 Signature Not Verified Page 1 of 8 Digitally Signed By:AJIT KUMAR Signing Date:21.08.2025 14:36:59 SPC for the petitioner, and have perused the record. 4. The respondent was released in Low Medical Category on his being found to be suffering from Primary Hypertension. From the record, including the proceedings of the Release Medical Board3, the following facts emerged: (i) The respondent had served in the Indian Air Force for 38 years before he was diagnosed as suffering from Primary Hypertension. (ii) The respondent, in his self-declaration, specifically declared that he had not been suffering from Primary Hypertension prior to joining the Indian Air Force. The declaration reads thus: 2(a). Did you suffer from any disability before joining the Armed Forces? If so give details and dates: NO The correctness of this declaration is not doubted either by the RMB or by the petitioner before