Panel on OROP not hearing individuals: ex-serviceman tells HC

New Delhi, Aug 24 (PTI) Delhi High Court was today toldthat the one-member judicial commission, set up to deal withgrievances of ex-servicemen on One Rank One Pension (OROP),was not hearing issues raised by an individual but dealingonly with contentions raised by organisations. The Centre refuted the claims before a bench of justicesB D Ahmed and Ashutosh Kumar saying the commission was hearingthe grievances raised before it not only by organisations butby individuals also. The bench was hearing a plea seeking directions toMinistry of Defence and the commission, headed by Justice(Retd) L Narasimha Reddy, "to give an effective public hearingto those affected or aggrieved by implementation of OROP". When the matter came up for hearing, petitioner S P Singhtold the bench he had approached the commission with hisgrievances but was not heard and told that the panel was onlyhearing the contentions of organisations. The petitioner also claimed that armed forces officerswere sitting with the panel despite the fact that it was aone-member judicial commission. Central government standing counsel Anurag Ahluwaliarefuted the claims of the petitioner saying the commission wasalso hearing the grievances of individuals and the officerswere present to assist the panel. He also said the petitioner was heard by the panel. The bench then asked the petitioner to file an affidavitstating that he was not given an opportunity by the commissionto put forth his grievances and posted the matter for furtherhearing on September 28. The Centre had earlier told the court it has extended bysix months the term of the one-member panel on OROP. The petitioner, who is an ex-serviceman, has said that asper a Ministry letter dated April 13, "Defence Forcespensioners/family pensioners, Defence Pensioners’ Associationscan submit their suggestions/views on the revised pension asnotified, to the MoD, through post or by email within 15 daysi.e. by April 29, 2016". The petitioner had contended that this information wasnot published in the newspapers and, therefore, people werenot informed about it. He had said that the time given toforward the representations was "very short". The Centre had told the court that date for forwardingsuggestions and representations was later extended to May 15.PTI ABA HMPARC