Thread by @LiveLawIndia

[OROP Pension Arrears]

#SupremeCourt hears matter concerning disbursement of arrears to eligible pensioners of the armed forces under the One Rank One Pension (OROP) Scheme.

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AG R Venkatramani: Kindly see, one small indulgence. Two important issues in the matter - operational issues.

CJI DY Chandrachud: You cannot go before our judgement now. Post our judgement you can tell us.

Justice Narasimha: Just tell us the plan of action

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CJI DY Chandrachud: Give a copy to the petitioner.

AG: It is confidential.

CJI DY Chandrachud: No no. I am personally averse to sealed covers. We see something, he cannot see that. This is fundamentally against rules of justice.

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CJI DY Chandrachud: There cannot be secrecy. There has to be transperancy in courts. This is arrears to be paid as per our judgements. There has to be transperancy.

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CJI DY Chandrachud: We need to put an end to this sealed cover practice in Supreme Court because then the High Courts will also start following suit. And this is fundamentally contrary to basic process of fair justice.

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CJI DY Chandrachud: We are understanding the difficulty of the government. But what we need is the facts. Please tell us the plan of action.

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AG Venkatramani reads from his report.

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CJI DY Chandrachud: You are saying that there are 6 lakh family pensioners. You'll be paying for them. 4 lakh pensioners are above 70 years and you say you'll pay on that 31st July. I was also a lawyer so you'll instead of 31st July, we'll keep 30th June for that.

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AG: These are matters of fiscal policy...

CJI DY Chandrachud: This is a dialogue Attorney, we won't pass orders. We're discussing.

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CJI DY Chandrachud: We were suggesting 31st August, 30th Nov and then 28th Feb.

Adv Huzefa Ahmadi: They were due in March 2022.

CJI DY Chandrachud: They're saying it is impossible to pay.

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Ahmadi: Why is it that pensions to be given to armed forces, who have served this country in their best years, is their last priority?

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CJI DY Chandrachud: Mr Ahmadi, we were also upset but we cannot lose sight of national interest also.

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CJI DY Chandrachud: Suppose we say that pay by 31st March and then Union comes to us and says sorry we don't have the money to pay before 31st March. What will you do? Ultimately you want them to pay.

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