The Supreme Court (SC) of India has ordered the government to pay all the arrears of about 10-11 lakh pensioners by February 28, 2024 in 3 equal installments. The top court ordered the government to settle unpaid One Rank One Position (OROP) arrears for 6 lakh family pensioners and recipients of gallantry awards by April 30, 2023, and pay OROP dues to retired servicemen aged 70 and over in one or more payments by June 30, 2023.

The SC also made it clear that the payment of the dues “will not affect further equalization of pension of ex-servicemen to be done in 2024”. The apex court made these remarks while hearing the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement’s (IESM) plea over the payment of (OROP) arrears to ex-service personnel.

Defense Ministry issued a statement

Earlier, Attorney General R Venkataramani had said the Centre has paid one installment of OROP arrears to ex-servicemen but needed some more time for further payments. Replying to this, the court said “First withdraw (your) January 20 notification on payment of OROP arrears, then we will consider your application for time.”

As, On January 9, the top court granted time till March 15 to the Centre for payment of total arrears of OROP. But on January 20, the ministry issued a communication that the arrears shall be paid in four yearly installments. The bench had said the Defence Ministry’s January 20 communication was completely contrary to its verdict

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SC wants to end the sealed cover procedure

Sealed Cover Procedure – The Supreme Court (and occasionally lower courts as well) have a controversial tradition of requesting and accepting information from government agencies in sealed envelopes that can only be seen by judges.

Further, the case was taken ahead by Attorney General (AG) for India R Venkatramani. He presented a sealed cover note in front of the bench headed by the Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud. Chief Justice refused to accept the same in the matter and stated that it has to be shared with the other side.

R Venkataramani argued and said that the note was confidential. Chief Justice responded by saying, “I am personally averse to sealed covers. What happens is, we see something, he does not see. And we decide on the case without showing it to him. This is fundamentally contrary to the judicial process. There cannot be secrecy in the Court. The Court has to be transparent. Secrecy is understandable in a case diary…the accused is not entitled to it, or something which affects the source of information or affects somebody’s life. But this is the payment of pension in pursuance of directions in our judgment. What can be the great secrecy in this?”

Followed by a few arguments ahead, AG had to read the note out loud in court.