SC gives Centre 6 more weeks to implement One Rank One Pension

SC gives Centre 6 more weeks to implement OROP - Next hearing on August 24

SC gives Centre 6 more weeks to implement OROP - The court will hear the case next on August 24.

The Supreme Court has given the Centre six more weeks to comply with its 2008 judgment ordering the implementation of the One Rank-One Pension (OROP) principle for retired armed forces personnel.


On Wednesday, a bench led by Justice T S Thakur posted the matter after six weeks on a request made by Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand, who asked for some more time to enable the government to do the needful.

This may be the final opportunity for the government to ward off initiation of a possible contempt proceeding over its failure to comply with the seven-year-old judgment.


On February 16, the court had reminded the NDA government of its promise to implement OROP in the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. “This was part of your manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections. You must keep your word,” the bench had observed while hearing a contempt petition, filed by retired Major General S P S Vains.

Vains has dragged the Defence Ministry to the court, demanding immediate implementation of the OROP scheme.

While posting the matter after three months, the bench had in February said: “We make it clear that no further time will be granted for the purpose of implementation of the impugned judgment.” However, on Wednesday, the bench accorded yet another opportunity to the government after the ASG said modalities of the implementation of the OROP were being devised. The court will hear the case next on August 24.


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Will launch stir if OROP is not brought: Hazare to PM
In a letter to PM Narendra Modi, Hazare said that in case the government failed to implement the OROP scheme, he would be compelled to hit Delhi streets.

Activist Anna Hazare Wednesday criticised the Centre for not implementing the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme for the armed forces and threatened to launched an agitation. In a letter to PM Narendra Modi, Hazare said that in case the government failed to implement the scheme, he would be compelled to hit Delhi streets. 

He said the OROP issue was agreed upon by the government in 2014 but was not implemented. “Subsequently, the Supreme Court had given the government three months to implement it in February 2015, but no decision was taken.” Citing the ongoing agitation by ex-service men, Hazare said the government’s failure to implement the scheme was shameful. “The government had the political will power to repromulgate the Land Acquisition Ordinance thrice but it lacks the will power to implement the OROP scheme,” the letter stated. “For years, jawans are posted in extreme climatic conditions and words can’t describe the hardships they face. It is shameful that they have to agitate to get their dues,” Hazare’s letter said.