Ex-naval officer files contempt petition against Navy

Former naval officer V S Yadav filed a contempt petition in Bombay HC against Centre,Chief of Naval Staff,Bureau of Sailors and the Controller of Accounts (Navy) for failing to comply with a 2005 court order holding 31 naval officers who fought in the 1971 war against Pakistan eligible for pension.

In his contempt petition,Yadav said he joined Navy as an Artificer Apprentice on July 24,1952 and was discharged on January 30,1976. He and 31 officers like him,had claimed pension under Navy Pension Regulation,1964 that stipulates 15 years of service. However,first four years of apprenticeship in navy were not taken into account while accounting for pension. The navy,thus,held them ineligible. The aggrieved challenged navy’s stand in HC and contended four years of apprenticeship be counted as service.

On November 22,2005,a HC division bench directed the navy to consider their application in 6 months. The navy,however,challenged HC’s decision in Supreme Court. July 22,2012,Supreme Court dismissed navy’s petition following which navy,November 12,2012,said pension will be granted. “The respondents have not issued pension pay orders despite Centre’s sanction,” Yadav’s petition states.

mayura.janwalkar@expressindia.com