UNION OF INDIA & ORS. vs (639571) EX MWO SATYAWAN BHARDWAJ

Judgment text excerpt

$~53 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Date of Decision : 08.01.2026 + W.P.(C) 217/2026, CM APPL. 981/2026 & CM APPL. 982/2026 UNION OF INDIA & ORS. .....Petitioners Through: Mr. Shashank Dixit, CGSC and Mr. Kunal Raj, Adv. versus (639571) EX MWO SATYAWAN BHARDWAJ .....Respondent Through: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V. KAMESWAR RAO HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE MANMEET PRITAM SINGH ARORA MANMEET PRITAM SINGH ARORA, J. (ORAL) CM APPL. 982/2026 1. Allowed, subject to just exceptions. 2. The application is disposed of. W.P.(C) 217/2026 and CM APPL. 981/2026 3. This petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India lays the challenge to the order dated 10.05.2023 (‘impugned order’) passed by the Armed Forces Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi (‘Tribunal’, for short) in O.A. 1257/2022 titled (639571) Ex. MWO Satyawan Bhardwaj v. Union of India and Others, wherein the respondent has been given the benefit of disability element of pension at 20% for life for the disability of Diabetes Mellitus Type II (old), rounded off to 50% from the date of Signature Not Verified Signed By:MOHIT W.P.(C) 217/2026 Page 1 of 9 Signing Date:14.01.2026 12:40 retirement i.e. 31.07.2019 with 6% interest p.a. till the date of payment. 4. The facts to be noted are the respondent was enrolled in the Indian Air Force on 21.04.1981. He retired from service on 31.07.2019 under the clause “On Attaining the age of superannuation”. The Release Medical Board (‘RMB’, for short) proceedings were held on 20.09.2018, wherein the Medical Board assessed respondent’s disability of Diabetes Mellitus Type II (Old) for life at 20% for life. It was opined that the aforesaid disability was neither attributable nor aggravated by military service. 5. The respondent’s claim for disability pension was rejected by th