A Retired Military Officer Moves SC Challenging Government Order On Freezing Dearness Allowance

A PIL has been filed by a Retired Military officer seeking directions to the Centre for de-freezing dearness allowances owed to retired defence personnel.

The dearness allowance, supposed to be disbursed to retired officers beginning week one of April, had been frozen retrospectively w.e.f. January 2020 by the Ministry of Finance on April 20, in light of the COVID19 pandemic crisis looming large.

Challenging this order of the Centre, the Retd. Military officer Major Onkar Singh Guleria, who is a Senior Citizen aged about 69 years, the plea urges the Court to intervene and pass appropriate directions.

"The Union of India be directed to practice what Prime Minister of India preaches, i.e. "Look after senior citizens and do not cut salary, senior citizens are more vulnerable to catching COVID 19 VIRUS than others." avers Major Guleria in his plea.

Petitioner has further stated that he is a cancer patient & lives in a rented accommodation. In this backdrop, he avers that this "arbitrary" order of freezing dearness allowance shall have adverse implications for him and "lakhs of Veterans"

Apropos this, the plea states that the order is malafide and attacks the very basis of an "honourable survival" for Veterans, especially during this crisis, which is "a time when we need every paisa in our last span of life".

"It has come as a big blow especially to pensioners at a time when all veterans are more vulnerable to catching COVID 19 VIRUS (China Originated Virus in December 19 ) as being daily advocated by Prime Minister of India and all functionaries of Union of India and Doctors through media and advisory letters in black and white." the Petition reads.

The petitioner further questions the "illegal and mechanical step" of the Centre, especially when financial packages have been attributed to business houses "at the drop of a hat".

"Then why does Prime Minister of India preaches to look after Senior citizens, not to cut salary when his own Govt is doing it. At least the Union of India must practice what its Prime Minster preaches" states Major Guleria.