Union Of India & Ors. vs Maj Gen Surender Mohan Vsm Retd

$~201-204, 206-215, 217-219, 221, 223, 225, 226, 228, 229, 231
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
rd
% Date of Decision: 03 November, 2026
# CNR No. DLHC010519442026
+ W.P.(C) 15933/2026, CM APPL. 74702/2026
UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS .....Petitioners
versus

SGT REPAKA GOPAL (RETD) .....Respondent
202
# CNR No. DLHC010274922026
+ W.P.(C) 8693/2026, CM APPLs. 40675/2026, 40676/2026
UNION OF INDIA & ORS. .....Petitioners
versus

MAJ GEN SURENDER MOHAN VSM RETD
.....Respondent
203
# CNR No. DLHC010278502026
+ W.P.(C) 8729/2026, CM APPLs. 40955/2026, 40956/2026
UNION OF INDIA & ORS. .....Petitioners
versus

EX NK MACP HAV VARINDER KUMAR .....Respondent

204
# CNR No. DLHC010302572026
+ W.P.(C) 9437/2026, CM APPLs. 43941/2026, 43942/2026,
43943/2026
UNION OF INDIA & ORS. .....Petitioners
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:KAMAL KUMAR
Signing Date:07.11.2026
17:01:35
W.P.(C) 15933/2026 and connected matters Page 1 of 12

versus

EX HONY NB SUB MAHADEB GHOSH (1 5667055A)
.....Respondent
206
# CNR No. DLHC010330382026
+ W.P.(C) 10278/2026, CM APPLs. 47585/2026, 47586/2026,
47587/2026
UNION OF INDIA AND ORS .....Petitioners
versus

HAV LAVKUSH KUMAR SINGH RETD. .....Respondent
207
# CNR No. DLHC010351702026
+ W.P.(C) 10938/2026, CM APPLs. 50643/2026, 50644/2026
UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS .....Petitioners
versus

COL. JOSE KP (RETD.) .....Respondent

208
# CNR No. DLHC010354912026
+ W.P.(C) 11036/2026, CM APPLs. 51043/2026, 51044/2026
UNION OF INDIA AND ORS. .....Petitioners
versus

SMT. GEETA KUMARI .....Respondent
209
# CNR No. DLHC010368662026
+ W.P.(C) 11463/2026, CM APPL. 53085/2026
UNION OF INDIA & ORS. .....Petitioners
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:KAMAL KUMAR
Signing Date:07.11.2026
17:01:35
W.P.(C) 15933/2026 and connected matters Page 2 of 12

versus

NK BABU LAL GURJAR .....Respondent

210
# CNR No. DLHC010392412026
+ W.P.(C) 12199/2026, CM APPLs. 56516/2026, 56517/2026
UNION OF INDIA AND ORS .....Petitioners
versus

AIR CMDE N MUNIRATHNAM .....Respondent

211
# CNR No. DLHC011107182025
+ W.P.(C) 12515/2026, CM APPLs. 57998/2026, 57999/2026,
58000/2026
UNION OF INDIA & ORS. .....Petitioners
versus

EX NK CHEF HARJINDER SINGH .....Respondent

212
# CNR No. DLHC010405652026
+ W.P.(C) 12569/2026, CM APPLs. 58292/2026, 58432/2026
UNION OF INDIA AND ORS .....Petitioners
versus

EX NK JAGBIR SINGH DAGAR .....Respondent

213
# CNR No. DLHC011030292025
+ W.P.(C) 19214/2025, CM APPL. 80043/2025
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:KAMAL KUMAR
Signing Date:07.11.2026
17:01:35
W.P.(C) 15933/2026 and connected matters Page 3 of 12

UNION OF INDIA AND ORS .....Petitioners
versus

EX- HAV/CLK MAHESH PRASAD SER NO 4061114-A
.....Respondent
214
# CNR No. DLHC011100362025
+ W.P.(C) 2843/2026, CM APPLs. 13788/2026, 13789/2026
UNION OF INDIA & ORS. .....Petitioners
versus

WG CDR RAMESH CHAND BHATI RETD. .....Respondent

215
# CNR No. DLHC010148782026
+ W.P.(C) 4809/2026, CM APPLs. 23520/2026, 23521/2026
UNION OF INDIA & ORS. .....Petitioners
versus

JC8I2246M EX NB SUB NARINDER SINGH .....Respondent

217
# CNR No. DLHC010161802026
+ W.P.(C) 5192/2026
UNION OF INDIA AND ORS .....Petitioners
versus

690021 EX JWO PARAM NANDA BEHRA .....Respondent

218
# CNR No. DLHC010164302026
+ W.P.(C) 5267/2026, CM APPL. 25888/2026
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:KAMAL KUMAR
Signing Date:07.11.2026
17:01:35
W.P.(C) 15933/2026 and connected matters Page 4 of 12

UNION OF INDIA AND ORS .....Petitioners
versus

COL DINESH DUTT SHARMA RETD SERVICE NO IC 43418W
.....Respondent
219
# CNR No. DLHC010164312026
+ W.P.(C) 5268/2026, CM APPLs. 25891/2026, 25892/2026
UNION OF INDIA AND ORS .....Petitioners
versus

660367 EX HFO RAMPAL SINGH
.....Respondent
221
# CNR No. DLHC010169702026
+ W.P.(C) 5431/2026, CM APPLs. 26589/2026, 26590/2026
UNION OF INDIA & ORS. .....Petitioners
versus

626519 HFO DAL CHANDRA (RETD) .....Respondent

223
# CNR No. DLHC010180662026
+ W.P.(C) 5718/2026, CM APPLs. 28065/2026, 28066/2026
UNION OF INDIA AND ORS ....Petitioners
versus

GP CAPT AK MAINI (15912) (RETD)
.....Respondent
225
# CNR No. DLHC011104652025
+ W.P.(C) 5911/2026, CM APPLs. 28983/2026, 28984/2026,
28985/2026
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:KAMAL KUMAR
Signing Date:07.11.2026
17:01:35
W.P.(C) 15933/2026 and connected matters Page 5 of 12

UNION OF INDIA AND ORS .....Petitioners
versus

EX HAV ASHWANI KR. SHARMA .....Respondent

226
# CNR No. DLHC010207942026
+ W.P.(C) 6344/2026, CM APPLs. 31214/2026, 31215/2026
UNION OF INDIA & ORS. .....Petitioners

versus

EX HAV RAM KUMAR SINGH .....Respondent

228
# CNR No. DLHC010215372026
+ W.P.(C) 6619/2026, CM APPLs. 32526/2026, 32527/2026
UNION OF INDIA AND ORS .....Petitioners

versus

EX JWO MD SAMIM
.....Respondent
229
# CNR No. DLHC010374572026
+ W.P.(C) 11667/2026, CM APPLs. 53964/2026, 53965/2026
UNION OF INDIA & ORS. .....Petitioners

versus

V-395M, COL RAJIV CHAUDHARY (RETD.) .....Respondent

231
# CNR No. DLHC010080352026
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:KAMAL KUMAR
Signing Date:07.11.2026
17:01:35
W.P.(C) 15933/2026 and connected matters Page 6 of 12

+ W.P.(C) 2859/2026, CM APPL. 13957/2026, CM APPL. 13958/2026
UNION OF INDIA AND ORS. .....Petitioners
versus

COL VG BHATNAGAR (RETD)
.....Respondent
Memo of Appearance
For Petitioners:
Major Rahul Kumar and Major Himanshu Tyagi, Army in Item Nos.202,
203, 204, 206, 207, 208, 209, 211, 212, 213, 215, 218, 225, 226, 229 & 231
Mr. Sahaj Garg, SPC with Mr. Sanjay Pal, G.P. and Mr. Prakhar Negi,
Advocate for Petitioner/UoI in Item No.201.
Mr. Anil Mishra, SPC for UoI/ Petitioner in Item No.206
Ms. Tanvi Nigam, SPC with Mr. Divyansh Nigam, Advocate and SGT
Padam Charan, DAV Legal Cell Air Force.

For Respondents:
Mr. Ravi Kumar, Advocate in Item No.203
Mr. Mukul Singh, CGSC with Mr. Aryan Dhaka, Advocate for UoI in Item
No.225.
Ms. Pratima N Lakhra, CGSC with Ms. Santha Samruthi, Advocate and
LDR A K Nautiyal, Officer-in-Charge, DAV Legal Cell in Item No.210
Gp Capt. Y Venugopal (Retd.) in Item No.210
Dr. Praveen Kumar, Advocate for Respondent in Item No. 213.
Ms. Indra Sen Singh and Ms. Zeeshan Ali Khan, Advocates. in Item No.218.
Mr. Durgesh Kumar Sharma, Advocate in Item No.219.

CORAM:
HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE JYOTI SINGH
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE GURVINDER PAL SINGH
JUDGEMENT
JYOTI SINGH, J. (ORAL)
1. These writ petitions are filed by Union of India challenging judgments
of learned Armed Forces Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi (Tribunal)
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:KAMAL KUMAR
Signing Date:07.11.2026
17:01:35
W.P.(C) 15933/2026 and connected matters Page 7 of 12

granting disability pension to the Respondents herein. Details of the
disability incurred by the Respondents during service along with the reasons
of the Release Medical Boards, wherever available are given hereunder for
ease of reference:-
Item
No.
WP(C) No. Name of
Respondent
Disability Years of
service
Reasoning
given by the
RMB
201 W.P.(C)
15933/2026
SGT REPAKA
GOPAL (RETD)
Primary
Hypertension
20 NANA as not
posted in
field areas,
HAA, CIOPs
or prolonged
afloat service.
202 W.P.(C)
8693/2026
MAJ GEN
SURENDER
MOHAN VSM
RETD
Primary
Hypertension
38 NANA as the
onset of
disability
occurred in
peace area
and was
owing to
lifestyle
disorder.
203 W.P.(C)
8729/2026
EX NK MACP
HAV VARINDER
KUMAR
Type-II Diabetes
Mellitus
21 NANA as the
onset of
disability
occurred in
peace area.
204 W.P.(C)
9437/2026
EX HONY NB
SUB MAHADEB
GHOSH
Type-II Diabetes
Mellitus
24 NANA as the
onset of
disability
occurred in
peace area
and a
metabolic
disorder.
206 W.P.(C)
10278/2026
HAV LAVKUSH
KUMAR SINGH
RETD.
Primary
Hypertension
24 NANA as the
onset of
disability
occurred in
peace area.
207 W.P.(C)
10938/2026
COL. JOSE KP
(RETD.)
Systemic
Hypertension
30 NANA as the
onset of
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:KAMAL KUMAR
Signing Date:07.11.2026
17:01:35
W.P.(C) 15933/2026 and connected matters Page 8 of 12

and Type-II
Diabetes
Mellitus
disability
occurred in
peace area
208 W.P.(C)
11036/2026
SMT. GEETA
KUMARI
CAD-SILENT
AWWI
PATENT
EPICARDIAL
CORONARIES
POST AICD
IMPLATATION
(IN NYHA
CLASS)
25 NANA as the
onset of
disability
occurred in
peace area.
209 W.P.(C)
11463/2026
NK BABU LAL
GURJAR
Primary
Hypertension
17 NANA as the
onset of
disability
occurred in
peace area.
210 W.P.(C)
12199/2026
AIR CMDE N
MUNIRATHNAM
Type-II Diabetes
Mellitus
34 NANA as the
onset of
disability
occurred in
peace area
and a
metabolic
disorder.
211 W.P.(C)
12515/2026
EX NK CHEF
HARJINDER
SINGH
Primary
Hypertension
17 NANA as the
onset of
disability
occurred in
peace area.
212 W.P.(C)
12569/2026
EX NK JAGBIR
SINGH DAGAR
Primary
Hypertension
22 NANA as the
onset of
disability
occurred in
peace area.
213 W.P.(C)
19214/2025
EX- HAV/CLK
MAHESH
PRASAD
Generalized
Tonic Colonic
Seizure-345
17 Constitutional
in nature.
214 W.P.(C)
2843/2026
WG CDR
RAMESH
CHAND BHATI
RETD.
Primary
Hypertension
35
(enrolled as
NANA
Airman on
26.11.1982 and
commissioned
on 21.01.1997)
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:KAMAL KUMAR
Signing Date:07.11.2026
17:01:35
W.P.(C) 15933/2026 and connected matters Page 9 of 12

215 W.P.(C)
4809/2026
EX NB SUB
NARINDER
SINGH
Generalized
Seizure
21 NANA as the
onset of
disability
occurred in
peace area.
217 W.P.(C)
5192/2026
EX JWO PARAM
NANDA BEHRA
Primary
Hypertension
32 NANA as the
onset of
disability
occurred in
peace area.
218 W.P.(C)
5267/2026
COL DINESH
DUTT SHARMA
RETD
Primary
Hypertension
31 NANA as the
onset of
disability
occurred in
peace area.
219 W.P.(C)
5268/2026
EX HFO
RAMPAL SINGH
Complete heart
block on
pacemaker
37 NANA
221 W.P.(C)
5431/2026
HFO DAL
CHANDRA
(RETD)
Primary
Hypertension
37 NANA as the
onset of
disability
occurred in
peace area.
223 W.P.(C)
5718/2026
GP CAPT AK
MAINI
Type-II Diabetes
Mellitus
28 NANA
225 W.P.(C)
5911/2026
EX HAV
ASHWANI KR.
SHARMA
Primary
Hypertension
and Type-II
Diabetes
Mellitus
21 NANA as the
onset of
disability
occurred in
peace area.
226 W.P.(C)
6344/2026
EX HAV RAM
KUMAR SINGH
Optic Atrophy
both eyes and
Pituitary
Macroadenoma
Nepa (D)-35.2
24 NANA
228 W.P.(C)
6619/2026
EX JWO MD
SAMIM
Primary
Hypertension
20 No close time
association
with stress or
strain or
dietary
compulsion
and the onset
of disability
occurred in
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:KAMAL KUMAR
Signing Date:07.11.2026
17:01:35
W.P.(C) 15933/2026 and connected matters Page 10 of 12

peace area.
229 W.P.(C)
11667/2026
COL RAJIV
CHAUDHARY
(RETD.)
Primary
Hypertension
33
(Commissioned
NANA as the
onset of
disability
occurred in
peace area.
in SSC on
26.05.1986 and
permanent
commissioned
on 10.04.2019)
231 W.P.(C)
2859/2026
COL VG
BHATNAGAR
(RETD)
Primary
Hypertension
Almost 28 NANA

2. Learned counsels for the Respondents submit that the writ petitions
deserve to be dismissed as the cases of the Respondents are covered by the
judgments of the Supreme Court in Dharamvir Singh v. Union of India and
Others, (2013) 7 SCC 316 and Union of India & Another v Rajbir Singh,
2015 SCC OnLine SC 119 and several other judgments of Division Benches
of this Court, including the judgment in Union of India and Others v. Ex
Sub Gawas Anil Madso, 2025 SCC OnLine Del 2018, which has been
upheld by the Supreme Court along with a batch of appeals in the judgment
in Union of India & Others v. Col. NC Isaac (Retd), 2026 SCC OnLine SC
1895.
3. Petitioners do not dispute that the cases of the Respondents are
covered by the aforesaid judgments on different issues that arise in different
writ petitions. It is now settled by the Supreme Court that: (a) only because
the disability has arisen in peace area, it cannot be held as a thumb rule that
the disability is neither attributable nor aggravated by military service; (b) if
an individual enters service and there is no note in the record that he suffers
from any pre-existing disease or illness, he shall be presumed to be of sound
mental and physical health and the disability that arises during the course of
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:KAMAL KUMAR
Signing Date:07.11.2026
17:01:35
W.P.(C) 15933/2026 and connected matters Page 11 of 12

service shall be attributable to and/or aggravated by military service; and (c)
the onus of proof that the disability is neither attributable to nor aggravated
by military service will be on the employer and the Medical Board will be
required to give reason to hold so. Tribunal in the impugned judgments has
followed these principles and we find no infirmity in the judgments
warranting interference.
4. Accordingly, all these writ petitions are dismissed as being devoid of
merit and we direct the Petitioners to implement the judgments of the
Tribunal, impugned before us and which we uphold, within a period of four
months from today, save and except, the judgment impugned in W.P. (C)
5718/2026, which we are informed during the course of hearing by counsel
for the Petitioner, has been implemented.
5. All the aforesaid writ petitions stand disposed of with pending
applications.

JYOTI SINGH, J

GURVINDER PAL SINGH, J
NOVEMBER 03, 2026/HS

Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:KAMAL KUMAR
Signing Date:07.11.2026
17:01:35
W.P.(C) 15933/2026 and connected matters Page 12 of 12