Plea Seeking Removal Of Alleged Anomalies In Centre’s ‘OROP Policy’ Dismissed: In Karnataka High Court
The Karnataka High Court has dismissed a petition seeking directions to the Union Government to implement a one-man judicial committee’s recommendation to resolve anomalies in the implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) to all pensioners as of July 1, 2014.
In the case of Wing Commander G B Athri (Retired) v Union Of India (Writ Petition No.4237 Of 2021), a division bench of Honourable Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justice S R Krishna Kumar dismissed the petition filed by Wing Commander G B Athri (Retired).
Facts of the case:
The petition requested that the respondent take immediate steps to re-fix the one rank one pension for ex-servicemen (OROP) with effect from July 1, 2019, and to disburse the same with arrears.
Assistant Solicitor General Shanthi Bhushan H, appearing for the respondent, filed a memo dated 24.03.2022 enclosing a copy of the Apex Court’s judgment in the case of Indian Ex Servicemen Movement &Ors. v Union of India & Ors., claiming that the subject matter of the present petition is directly and squarely covered by the aforesaid judgment and that, as a result, nothing further survives in the present petition.
The Supreme Court upheld the Central Government’s implementation of the “One Rank One Pension”/ (“OROP”) scheme in the defense forces, as per its November 7, 2015 notification. It also stated that there is no legal requirement that pensioners with the same rank receive the same amount of money.
The petitioner’s lawyer did not object to the Assistant Solicitor General’s argument.
Court Findings:
“In light of the aforesaid facts and circumstances, and in light of the judgment of the Apex Court referred to supra, nothing further survives for consideration in the present petition and the same is accordingly dismissed,” the court said.
Judgement Reviewed By Manju Molakalapalli.