UNION OF INDIA & ORS. vs MWO SURENDRA KUMAR RETD

Judgment text excerpt

$~48 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 16663/2025 & CM APPL. 68352/2025, CM APPL. 68353/2025 UNION OF INDIA & ORS. .....Petitioners Through: Ms. Sarika Singh, SPC for UOI versus MWO SURENDRA KUMAR RETD .....Respondent Through: Mr. Ramniwas Bansal, Adv. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C. HARI SHANKAR HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE OM PRAKASH SHUKLA JUDGMENT (ORAL) % 03.11.2025 C. HARI SHANKAR, J. 1. This petition assails order dated 28 May 2024 passed by the Armed Forces Tribunal1 in OA 1416/2021 whereby the respondent’s application for grant of disability pension on the ground that he suffers from Primary Hypertension with 30%, lifelong, rounded off to 50%, has been allowed by the AFT. 2. The issue is covered by a recent decision rendered by one of us (C. Hari Shankar J.) in UOI v Ex Sub Gawas Anil Madso2. 3. Nonetheless, we have heard Ms. Sarika Singh, learned SPC for the petitioners, and have perused the record. 1 “the AFT” hereinafter 2 318 (2025) DLT 711 Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:AJIT W.P.(C) 16663/2025 Page 1 of 8 KUMAR Signing Date:04.11.2025 19:03:16 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 Air Force for over 39 years and 7 months 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 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 ei