One Rank One Pension: Supreme Court directs Centre to pay arrears to pensioners by March 15

The Supreme Court directed the Union government on Monday to pay the arrears of One Rank-One Pension (OROP) to all eligible pensioners of the Armed forces by March 15.

The Bench of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice P.S. Narasimha told the Central government to ensure that all arrears were paid expeditiously to the pensioners of the armed forces and that there was no further delay. 

The Apex Court further granted liberty to the All India Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association to file an application before the court, if they felt aggrieved by any action of the Centre on payment of arrears of OROP. 

Appearing for the Unionof India, Attorney General R Venkataramani said the tabulation process has been completed by the Comptroller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) and the tables have been sent to the Ministry of Defence for final approval. 

It assured the top court of the country that money will be deposited in the accounts of 25 lakh pensioners of armed forces by March 15. 

The Union government had last month moved the Apex Court, seeking an extension of time till March 15 for payment of arrears of the OROP scheme to all eligible pensioners of the armed forces.