Colonel Sameer Garg v. Union of India and Ors

O R D E R %

18.08.2026 CM APPL. 55017/2026 (Exemption)

¶1Exemption allowed, subject to all just exceptions.

¶2The application, accordingly, stands disposed of. W.P.(C) 11891/2026

¶1This is a writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following prayers: "(A). Admit and allow present WP, Quash and set aside AFT(PB) order dated 0l Jul 2026, passed in OA. 1059/2024.

(B). Issue a writ of Mandamus and/or any other appropriate Writ, order or direction to the Respondents to grant arrears of disability pension to The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. the Petitioner from date of holding of release med board (Date of holding of Release Medical Board was 22 Aug 2023).

(C). Issue a writ of Mandamus and/or any other appropriate Writ, order or direction to the Respondents to pay interest @ 9 % Per Annum from date of holding of release med board, to till final date of payment, if the order is Not implemented within four weeks of the order, passed by this High Court."

¶2The challenge in the present petition is to the order of the Armed Forces Tribunal delivered on 01st July, 2026, wherein the claim of the petitioner for grant of disability pension came to be rejected.

¶3It is the case of the petitioner that he retired from the Army and thereafter, got re-employment in the Army. Thereafter, he was released from the service on account of him suffering from a medical ailment, i.e., primary hypertension.

¶4Drawing support from Clause 25 of the Special Army Instruction No. 1/S/80-Re-employment of Retired Regular Officers-Terms and Condition of Service, which deals with the benefits, i.e., grant of Disability Pension and Family Pensionary Awards, to be conferred on the re-employed officers, it is urged that the petitioner is entitled for such benefit of grant of disability pension.

¶5It is further urged by the counsel for the petitioner that the issue herein is squarely covered by the judgment of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court delivered in the matter of Union of India Through Secretary vs. Lt. Col. Som Raj (Retd.) decided on 06th October, 2025 in W.P.(C) No. 887/2024.

¶6As such, it is urged that based on the aforesaid, the petitioner ought to have been held entitled for the grant of disability pension.

¶7As against above, the counsel for the respondent would oppose the The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. prayer, as according to him, the judgment of Union of India Through Secretary (supra) is not applicable in the given set of facts and circumstances.

¶8Even otherwise, it is urged by the counsel for the respondent that there is a statutory embargo in the claim put forth by the petitioner, which has been righty validated by the Tribunal, and as such dismissal is sought.

¶9With the assistance of the respective counsels, we have gone through the impugned order dated 01st July, 2026 passed by the Tribunal.

¶10The Tribunal has rightly considered the applicability of Clause 72 of the Pension Regulation for the Army, 2008 (Part-1) which deals with the personnel not eligible for disability pension/special family pension.

¶11Sub clause (3) of Clause 72 puts an embargo on the right of the parties, like the present petitioner, who are in the category of officers who have retired from the services of army on completion of age limit in medical category Shape-1 and are re-employed in army and are found to be in low medical category during such re-employment unless the re-employment is terminated on account of disability.

¶12The said embargo is rightly so inferred by the Armed Forces Tribunal to the detriment of the petitioner, particularly, when the rule contemplates that such benefits cannot be passed on to the petitioner.

¶13As regards the reliance placed by the counsel of the petitioner on the judgment of Union of India Through Secretary (supra), the benefits were extended to the petitioner therein on altogether different set of facts which cannot be equated to that of the facts of the present case.

¶14The order of the Armed Forces Tribunal is based on the Service Rules as enumerated in the PRA, 2008 (Part-I) which deals with the very The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. eventuality which is sought to be canvassed by the petitioner in the present petition.

¶15For the said reasons, no case for causing interference is made out.

¶16The petition, accordingly, stands dismissed. NITIN WASUDEO SAMBRE, J AMIT SHARMA, J AUGUST 18, 2026/dm/gs The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI # CNR No. DLHC010382442026 + W.P.(C) 11891/2026 COLONEL SAMEER GARG .....Petitioner Through: Appearance not given versus UNION OF INDIA AND ORS .....Respondents Through: Mr. Ruchir Mishra (SPC), Mr. Snehlata. S. Surana (CGSC), Mr. Saurabh Kumar Nagar (GP), Mr. Mukesh Kumar Tiwari, Ms. Rupali Sinha (GP), Mr. Reva Krna Mishra, Advocates Capt Himanshu Tyagi Army CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE NITIN WASUDEO SAMBRE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AMIT SHARMA