Grant of Ex-servicemen status to recruits boarded out on Medical grounds with disability pension

New Delhi, the 18th March, 2013.

Subject : Grant of Ex-servicemen status to recruits boarded out on Medical grounds with disability pension.

The undersigned is directed to refer to Office Memorandum of even number dated 01.02.2006 wherein with the approval of Raksha Mantri it was decided that such recruits who were boarded out /released on medical grounds and granted medical/disability pension will also be covered under the category of ‘Ex servicemen’ for all practical purposes. Reference is also invited to DOP&T Notification No.G.S.R.757 (E) dated 04.10.2012 (published in the Official Gazette on 10.10.2012) wherein ex-recruits boarded out or relieved on medical grounds and granted medical disability pension have been given the status of Ex-servicemen. It has been reported that some Rajya Sainik Boards are not issuing Ex-servicemen cards to such ex-recruits as a result of which ex-recruits are being denied the benefits available to ex-servicemen. Various representations from ex-recruits are being received and court cases have also been filed in this regard.

2. In this context, DOP&T has also stated that though the said notification is effective from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette i.e. 10.10.2012, the Ministry of Defence has already granted status of Ex-servicemen for all practical purposes to ex-recruits who are boarded out/released on medical grounds and granted medical/disability pension vide OM dated 01.02.2006. Accordingly DOP&T has advised that Ministry of Defence may consider the issue of granting of Ex-servicemen status to such ex-recruits who are boarded out/released on medical grounds and granted medical/disability pension w.e.f. 01.02.2006 prior to the Notification and issue instructions to the Zila Sainik Board to this effect.

3. The matter has been examined in the Department and, with the approval of the competent authority, it is reiterated that such recruits who were boarded out/released on medical grounds and granted medical/disability pension will be covered under the category of ex-servicemen for all practical purposes as per the OM dated 01.02.2006 w.e.f. 01.02.2006.

4. KSB/DGR may accordingly take necessary action to grant ESM status to such ex-recruits to avoid further hardships to the ex-recruits and decisions of all court cases in this regard may be complied with immediately. This will enable eligible ESM to avail various facilities available to them.

5. KSB may issue specific instruction to all RSBs/ZSBs to grant ‘Ex-servicemen’ status to such ex-recruits who were boarded out/released on medical grounds and granted medical/disability pension with effect from 01.02.2006. This OM may be uploaded on the official website of DGR/KSB for wide publicity. Compliance report may please be furnished.

This has the approval of the competent authority.

sd/-

(Vineet Saini)

Deptty Secretary (Res-I)

Source: www.desw.gov.in

[http://www.desw.gov.in/sites/upload_files/desw/files/pdf/DESW-OM-Dated-18-03-2013.pdf]