Teetering on his shaky legs, Hindurao Ingale came out of the court of Chief Justice Mohit Shah at the Bombay High Court on Thursday. Tired, he sat on his haunches and had to be helped up by his family members.
The 68-year-old ex-serviceman from Satara has been knocking on the court’s door seeking disability pension under the Pension Regulations for the Army, 1961. His petition says he was injured in the India-Pakistan war of 1971.
The Chief Justice called for a report on his service record from the Army to be submitted on May 7.
“At least take some decision so that the files are moving. Your officers will have to do some spadework. You will have to find out where he was working and whether he is entitled to disability pension,” Justice Shah told the Army representative, who said Mr. Ingale served as an artillery driver and held the rank of a gunner.
His petition said he sustained bullet injuries “while fighting for the nation” during the 1971 war. As a result, he developed a disease of the bones, putting him in braces and rendering him immobile.
Mr. Ingale said he was denied disability pension on the ground that he was discharged on his own request, though he had never made a request.
