Defence
Loophole Allows Indian Army Officers To Claim Disability Pensions; CAG Questions Defence Ministry And Army HQ
Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande and other members of the Armed Forces. (representative image via Twitter).
Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has questioned the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Army HQ as to how over 35 to 40 per cent of officers are able to take disability pensions compared to 15-18 per cent jawans, after retirement.
Moreover, more than 22 per cent officers and 13 per cent Personnel Below Other Ranks (PBOR) are taking disability pensions for lifestyle diseases like hypertension and diabetes.
In addition, a ‘significantly higher’, 44 to 58 percent of the medical officers retired with disability pensions.
According to a TOI report, a disability pension, on an average, is more than 20 to 50 per cent of the normal pension.
CAG asked the MoD and the Army HQ “to assess the reasons for such a high percentage of officers, especially medical officers being granted ‘the disability element’ on being discharged from service.”
“The ministry may ensure the complete database with all the relevant information is maintained to carry out an analysis of the main reasons for disability, including lifestyle diseases among the defence forces, for possible corrective action,” CAG asked the MoD.
Additionally, 345 medical officers out of 683 also claimed disability pensions.
The CAG asked the MoD whether it has conducted any analysis of the higher percentage of officers and medical officers taking disability pensions and whether any mitigating measures have been taken to address the issue.
The MoD, according to the report, has not replied to the CAG till January 2023.
The Army HQ, however, has acknowledged that the officers are utilising a loophole in the process. Some top officers, just days before retirement, are able to get disability certificates to get higher pensions.
However, some veteran officers have criticised the CAG for raising the wrong questions.
The veterans according to the report said that officers have a higher chance of getting a disease since “they retire in their mid-50 while soldiers retire in their 30s.”
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