Soldiers Killed in Friendly Fire Entitled to Same Pension as Battle Casualties: Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ruled that soldiers killed by fellow personnel during military operations are entitled to the same pension benefits as those killed in action.

The case involved a soldier who died from a firearm injury during Operation Rakshak in 1991. Despite the 25-year delay in filing the claim, the Court upheld the Armed Forces Tribunal’s 2022 order granting the soldier’s mother a liberalised family pension.

Justices Anupinder Singh Grewal and Deepak Manchanda said denying such benefits would be unjust, as the soldier’s death qualified as a battle casualty. [Union of India v. Rukmani Devi]