UNION OF INDIA & ORS. vs SGT RANVIR (RETD)

Judgment text excerpt

$~97 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 17424/2025, CM APPLs. 71995/2025 & 71996/2025 UNION OF INDIA & ORS. .....Petitioners Through: Mr. Abhishek Yadav, Senior Panel Counsel with Sgt. Manish Kumar Singh and Sgt. Mritunjay, Legal Cell, Air Force versus SGT RANVIR (RETD) .....Respondent Through: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C. HARI SHANKAR HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE OM PRAKASH SHUKLA JUDGMENT (ORAL) % 17.11.2025 C. HARI SHANKAR, J. 1. This petition assails order dated 25 September 2023 passed by the Armed Forces Tribunal1 in OA 2604/2022 whereby the respondent’s application for grant of disability pension on the ground that he suffers from Primary Hypertension with 30%, rounded off to 50%, has 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. Abhishek Yadav, learned SPC 1 “the AFT”, hereinafter 2 318 (2025) DLT 711 Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:AJIT W.P.(C) 17424/2025 Page 1 of 8 KUMAR Signing Date:20.11.2025 12:51:54 for the petitioners, 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 Air Force for over 20 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 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