A bench of justices B S Chauhan and J S Khehar said that in such cases, courts should not interfere with the findings of the medical board about the cause of accident and eligibility of the personnel to claim the benefit.
"A person claiming disability pension must be able to show a reasonable nexus between the act, omission or commission resulting in an injury to the person and the normal expected standard of duties and way of life expected from such person.
"As the military personnel sustained disability when he was on an annual leave that too at his home town in a road accident, it could not be held that the injuries could be attributable to or aggravated by military service. Such a person would not be entitled to disability pension," the bench said in an order.
The apex court passed the order upholding an appeal filed by the Centre challenging a judgement of the Punjab and Haryana High Court directing the government to pay disability pension to Talwinder Singh who suffered disabilities in the eye due to an accident sustained at his hometown while being on leave.
"We are of the view that the opinion of the Medical Board which is an expert body must be given due weight, value and credence. Person claiming disability pension must establish that the injury suffered by him bears a causal connection with military service.
"In the instant case, as the injury suffered by the respondent could not be attributable to or aggravated by the military service he is not entitled for disability pension," the bench said. MORE