SC orders to implement One Rank-One Pension (OROP) within Six weeks

The Supreme Court of India requires the Centre to comply with its 2008 judgment ordering the implementation of the One Rank-One Pension (OROP) principle for retired armed forces personnel within six weeks. Now, the next hearing will be on 24 August.

On Wednesday, a bench led by Justice T S Thakur listed 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. In the light of the tone adopted by SC, this may be the final opportunity for the government to avoid initiation of a possible contempt proceeding over its failure to comply with the seven-year-old judgment.

Interestingly, the court had reminded the government of its promise to implement the ruling 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. The contempt petition was filed by Major General SPS Vains.

Vainshas taken legal action against 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 gave yet another opportunity to the government after the ASG said modalities of the implementation of the OROP were being devised.