Retired And Hurt

Veterans up in arms against the move to tax and restrict disability pension given to military personnel

- Pradip R. Sagar

ON AUGUST 23, 1965, an Army patrol led by Captain Vijay Oberoi ran into an ambush set up by a group of self-styled guerillas on the outskirts of Srinagar. The firefight with the guerillas, who were, in fact, Pakistani soldiers in disguise, went on for an hour. Although Oberoi’s team emerged victorious, the 24-year-old officer took a bullet in his right leg. At the military hospital, doctors found that the bullet had ruptured the young captain’s femoral artery, and had to amputate the leg.

Discharged from the hospital, Oberoi was given three choices. Quit the Army on medical grounds, apply for a desk job or return to his unit and not expect any preferential treatment. Oberoi opted for the third option and served for 36 years, retiring as vice chief of the Army. The wooden right leg was never a hindrance for him. The only privilege Oberoi ever received over his peers was the disability pension he got upon his retirement in 2001, which has slightly higher monetary benefits.

Oberoi was, however, in for a shock after the government decided to tax certain disability pensions, saying the provision was being misused. The Central Board of Direct Taxes issued a notification on June 24, limiting the tax exemption only to armed forces personnel who are forced to leave the service because of disability, and not for those who chose to continue.

“While going for battle, we know that we might get wounded, disabled or killed. We answer the call of duty with the strong conviction that we and our families will be taken care of. This unwritten covenant is now under grave threat,” said Oberoi.