Delhi HC: Retired Wing Commander's Hypertension Deemed Service-Related, Secures Disability Pension

Summary: Retired Wing Commander Eswara Raghuraj wins his case for disability pension after the Armed Forces Tribunal initially denied it. The Delhi High Court overturns the decision, granting him the pension with interest.

The Initial Denial

On April 15, 2024, the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) turned down Wing Commander Eswara Raghuraj's request for a disability pension. He had retired from the Indian Air Force on April 30, 2018, with high blood pressure rated at 30%. However, the AFT decided that his condition was not caused or made worse by his military service.

The Medical Board's Findings

The Release Medical Board (RMB) had checked Raghuraj's condition on April 18, 2018. They decided that his high blood pressure was not related to his service and gave him a net qualifying disability percentage of zero. This was a key reason for the initial denial of his pension.

Legal Battle Begins

Raghuraj challenged the decision by sending a legal notice on September 12, 2019, but his claim was rejected again on October 15, 2019. Frustrated, he took his case to the AFT, which also dismissed his claim, saying his condition was linked to his weight rather than his service.

The Court Steps In

On December 1, 2025, Judges Om Prakash Shukla and C. Hari Shankar of the Delhi High Court reviewed the case. They noted that the AFT's decision lacked strong evidence connecting Raghuraj's condition to his weight. The court referred to previous cases, emphasizing that if there's no proof, a condition should be assumed to be related to service unless proven otherwise.

“Every obese person does not suffer from hypertension, and every person who suffers from hypertension is not necessarily obese.” — Court Observation

The Verdict

The court decided that Raghuraj deserved the disability pension. They canceled the AFT's order and directed the authorities to give him the pension from his retirement date, April 30, 2018, with 12% interest on the money owed. Additionally, they allowed for rounding off the pension to 50% as per a 2014 Supreme Court decision.

Raghuraj's victory is not just a personal win but a significant precedent for others in similar situations.