Emr Upendra Durgadas (Ex No.123100-Z) vs Union Of India

Kerala High Court

Emr Upendra Durgadas (Ex No.123100-Z) vs Union Of India on 8 August, 2025

‭W.P(C).No.18230 of 2024          1‬         2025:KER:58978‬
                                             ‭


           IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM‬
           ‭

                              PRESENT‬
                              ‭

 THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI‬
 ‭

                                  &‬
                                  ‭

          THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SYAM KUMAR V.M.‬
          ‭

              TH‬
              ‭
 FRIDAY, THE 8‬
 ‭                DAY OF AUGUST 2025 / 17TH SRAVANA,‬‭
                  ‭                                  1947‬

                       WP(C) NO. 18230 OF 2024‬
                       ‭

    ‭AGAINST THE ORDER DATED 30.06.2023 (EXHIBIT P3) IN‬
    (
  O.A.NO‬
  ‭      .121 OF 2021 PASSED BY THE HON'BLE ARMED FORCES‬
         ‭
                         TRIBUNAL)‬
                         ‭

PETITIONER/APPLICANT:‬
‭

              ‭MR UPENDRA DURGADAS (EX NO.123100-Z)‬
              E
              AGED 45 YEARS‬
              ‭
              S/O LATE KN PADMANABHAN NAIR PADMINI BHANAVAN‬
              ‭
              PANAMANNA SOUTH P.O, OTTAPPALAM, PALAKKAD DIST,‬
              ‭
              KERALA, PIN - 679501‬
              ‭


              ‭Y ADVS.‬
              B
              SHRI.RATHEESH B.‬
              ‭
              SHRI.GYOTHISH CHANDRAN‬
              ‭
              SHRI.SANUJU R.‬
              ‭



RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS:‬

‭ 1‬ ‭ ‭NION OF INDIA‬ U REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY MINISTRY OF DEFENCE,‬ ‭ SOUTH BLOCK, NEW DELHI, PIN - 110011‬ ‭ 2‬ ‭ ‭HE CHIEF OF THE NAVY STAFF‬ T INTEGRATED HEAD QUARTERS OF MOD (NAVY) SOUTH BLOCK,‬ ‭ NEW DELHI, PIN - 110011‬ ‭ ‭W.P(C).No.18230 of 2024 2‬ 2025:KER:58978‬ ‭ 3‬ ‭ ‭HE COMMODORE‬ T BUREAU OF SAILORS, CHEETAH CAMP MANKHURD, MUMBAI,‬ ‭ PIN - 400088‬ ‭ 4‬ ‭ ‭CDA NAVY(PENSIONS)‬ P POST BOX NO. 589, NO.1 COOPERAGE ROAD MUMBAI,‬ ‭ PIN - 400039‬ ‭ ‭Y ADV O.M.SHALINA,‬ B DEPUTY SOLICITOR GENERAL OF INDIA‬ ‭ ‭HIS‬ ‭ T WRIT‬ ‭ PETITION‬ ‭ (CIVIL)‬ ‭ HAVING‬ ‭ BEEN‬ ‭ FINALLY‬ ‭ HEARD‬ ‭ ON‬ 29.07.2025,‬ ‭ ‭ THE‬ ‭ COURT‬ ‭ON‬ ‭08.08.2025‬ ‭ DELIVERED‬ ‭THE‬ FOLLOWING:‬ ‭ ‭W.P(C).No.18230 of 2024 3‬ 2025:KER:58978‬ ‭ ‭JUDGMENT‬ ‭Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari, J.‬ ‭Heard finally with the consent of both the parties.‬ ‭2.‬ ‭The‬ ‭present‬ ‭writ‬ ‭petition‬ ‭under‬ ‭Article‬ ‭226‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭Constitution‬ ‭of‬ ‭India‬ ‭has‬ ‭been‬ ‭filed‬ ‭challenging‬ ‭the‬ ‭Ext.P3‬ ‭order‬ ‭dated‬ ‭30.06.2023‬ ‭passed‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬ ‭Armed‬ ‭Forces‬ ‭Tribunal‬ ‭(AFT), Regional Bench, Kochi in‬‭O.A.No‬‭.121 of 2021.‬ ‭3.‬‭The‬‭brief‬‭facts‬‭of‬‭the‬‭case‬‭are‬‭that‬‭the‬‭petitioner‬‭was‬‭an‬ ‭Ex‬ ‭Sailor‬ ‭with‬ ‭No‬‭.123100‬ ‭Z‬ ‭,‬ ‭who‬ ‭was‬ ‭recruited‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭Indian‬ ‭Navy‬‭on‬‭23.01.1998.‬‭He‬‭was‬‭declared‬‭as‬‭a‬‭deserter‬‭on‬‭03.12.2003‬ ‭and‬‭disciplinary‬‭proceedings‬‭were‬‭initiated‬‭against‬‭him.‬‭He‬‭was‬ ‭dismissed‬ ‭from‬ ‭service‬ ‭on‬ ‭16.04.2010‬ ‭for‬ ‭his‬ ‭absence‬ ‭from‬ ‭service.‬ ‭Being‬ ‭aggrieved,‬ ‭the‬ ‭petitioner‬ ‭preferred‬ ‭a‬ ‭W.P(C).No.18230 of 2024 4‬ 2025:KER:58978‬ ‭ ‭representation‬‭dated‬‭03.03.2020‬‭for‬‭grant‬‭of‬‭disability‬‭pension,‬ ‭which‬‭was‬‭rejected‬‭by‬‭the‬‭respondents.‬ ‭The‬‭AFT‬‭dismissed‬‭the‬ ‭Original‬‭Application‬‭on‬‭merits‬‭as‬‭well‬‭as‬‭on‬‭the‬‭ground‬‭of‬‭delay‬ ‭of more than 11 years in approaching the Tribunal.‬ ‭4.‬ ‭The‬ ‭learned‬ ‭counsel‬ ‭for‬ ‭the‬ ‭petitioner‬ ‭submitted‬‭that‬ ‭the‬‭petitioner‬‭has‬‭sustained‬‭injuries‬‭during‬‭swimming‬‭practice‬ ‭while‬ ‭on‬ ‭duty.‬ ‭Though‬ ‭the‬ ‭petitioner‬ ‭was‬ ‭in‬ ‭a‬ ‭low‬ ‭medical‬ ‭category,‬‭the‬‭Medical‬‭Board‬‭was‬‭not‬‭convinced‬‭because‬‭he‬‭had‬ ‭been‬‭declared‬‭a‬‭deserter.‬‭Subsequently,‬‭he‬‭was‬‭dismissed‬‭from‬ ‭service‬ ‭with‬ ‭effect‬ ‭from‬ ‭16.04.2010,‬‭as‬‭he‬‭had‬‭been‬‭a‬‭deserter‬ ‭for‬ ‭more‬ ‭than‬ ‭7‬ ‭years.‬ ‭The‬ ‭petitioner‬ ‭had‬ ‭prayed‬ ‭for‬ ‭reinstatement‬ ‭in‬ ‭service‬ ‭with‬ ‭all‬ ‭consequential‬ ‭reliefs.‬ ‭The‬ ‭learned‬‭counsel‬‭for‬‭the‬‭petitioner‬‭submitted‬‭that‬‭the‬‭dismissal‬ ‭W.P(C).No.18230 of 2024 5‬ 2025:KER:58978‬ ‭ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭petitioner‬ ‭was‬ ‭effected‬ ‭without‬ ‭following‬ ‭the‬ ‭due‬ ‭procedure‬‭of‬‭law‬‭and‬‭therefore,‬‭prayed‬‭that‬‭the‬‭writ‬‭petition‬‭be‬ ‭allowed and the petitioner be reinstated in service.‬ ‭5.‬‭Per‬‭contra‬‭the‬‭learned‬‭Deputy‬‭Solicitor‬‭General‬‭of‬‭India‬ ‭appearing‬ ‭for‬ ‭the‬ ‭respondents‬ ‭vehemently‬ ‭opposed‬ ‭the‬ ‭afore‬ ‭prayer‬ ‭and‬ ‭submitted‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬ ‭learned‬ ‭Tribunal‬ ‭ought‬ ‭not‬ ‭to‬ ‭have‬‭gone‬‭into‬‭the‬‭merits‬‭of‬‭the‬‭case,‬‭since‬‭the‬‭petitioner‬‭was‬ ‭dismissed‬ ‭from‬ ‭service‬ ‭on‬ ‭16.04.2010.‬ ‭Thereafter‬ ‭he‬ ‭did‬ ‭not‬ ‭choose‬ ‭to‬ ‭file‬ ‭a‬ ‭representation‬ ‭or‬ ‭approach‬ ‭the‬ ‭learned‬ ‭Tribunal‬‭for‬‭the‬‭last‬‭11‬‭years.‬‭Subsequently‬‭the‬‭petitioner‬‭had‬ ‭preferred‬‭a‬‭representation‬‭which‬‭was‬‭dismissed.‬‭Thereafter‬‭the‬ ‭petitioner‬ ‭approached‬ ‭the‬ ‭Tribunal‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭year‬ ‭2021‬ ‭by‬ ‭filing‬ ‭the‬‭Original‬‭Application.‬‭On‬‭perusal‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Original‬‭Application,‬ ‭W.P(C).No.18230 of 2024 6‬ 2025:KER:58978‬ ‭ ‭no‬ ‭reasons‬ ‭have‬ ‭been‬ ‭shown‬ ‭for‬ ‭the‬ ‭inordinate‬ ‭delay‬ ‭of‬ ‭11‬ ‭years‬‭in‬‭approaching‬‭the‬‭Tribunal.‬‭The‬‭learned‬‭Tribunal,‬‭apart‬ ‭from‬‭considering‬‭the‬‭merits‬‭of‬‭the‬‭case,‬‭dismissed‬‭the‬‭Original‬ ‭Application‬ ‭on‬ ‭the‬ ‭ground‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬ ‭applicant‬ ‭was‬ ‭not‬‭eligible‬ ‭for‬‭disability‬‭pension‬‭as‬‭per‬‭Pension‬‭Regulations‬‭for‬‭the‬‭Navy,‬ ‭1964.‬ ‭The‬ ‭Hon'ble‬ ‭Apex‬ ‭Court‬‭has‬‭clearly‬‭held‬‭that‬‭preferring‬ ‭representation‬ ‭after‬ ‭a‬ ‭long‬ ‭gap‬ ‭of‬ ‭time‬ ‭and‬ ‭that‬ ‭having‬ ‭been‬ ‭considered‬‭by‬‭the‬‭authorities,‬‭would‬‭not‬‭bring‬‭the‬‭case‬‭within‬ ‭limitation.‬‭Therefore,‬‭no‬‭interference‬‭is‬‭called‬‭for‬‭in‬‭the‬‭order‬ ‭passed‬‭by‬‭the‬‭learned‬‭Tribunal.‬‭He,‬‭therefore,‬‭prayed‬‭that‬‭this‬ ‭writ petition be dismissed.‬ ‭6.‬ ‭Heard‬ ‭the‬‭learned‬‭counsel‬‭for‬‭the‬‭parties‬‭and‬‭perused‬ ‭the records.‬ ‭W.P(C).No.18230 of 2024 7‬ 2025:KER:58978‬ ‭ ‭7.‬‭In‬‭the‬‭present‬‭case,‬‭the‬‭petitioner‬‭had‬‭approached‬‭the‬ ‭learned‬ ‭Tribunal‬ ‭after‬ ‭a‬ ‭period‬ ‭of‬ ‭11‬ ‭years‬ ‭for‬ ‭which‬ ‭no‬ ‭plausible‬‭explanation‬‭has‬‭been‬‭put‬‭forth‬‭for‬‭such‬‭a‬‭huge‬‭delay.‬ ‭Therefore,‬‭the‬ ‭Original‬‭Application‬‭as‬‭well‬‭as‬‭this‬‭writ‬‭petition‬ ‭suffers‬‭from‬‭inordinate‬‭delay‬‭and‬‭laches.‬‭The‬‭learned‬‭Tribunal‬ ‭has‬‭held‬‭that‬‭as‬‭per‬‭the‬‭Pension‬‭Regulations‬‭for‬‭the‬‭Navy,‬‭1964,‬ ‭it‬‭is‬‭evident‬‭that‬‭the‬‭Sailor‬‭who‬‭is‬‭dismissed‬‭from‬‭the‬‭service‬‭is‬ ‭ineligible‬‭for‬‭disability‬‭pension.‬‭The‬‭learned‬‭Tribunal‬‭had‬‭also‬ ‭considered‬‭the‬‭case‬‭on‬‭merits‬‭and‬‭came‬‭to‬‭the‬‭conclusion‬‭that‬ ‭there‬ ‭is‬ ‭no‬ ‭illegality‬ ‭or‬ ‭irregularity‬ ‭on‬ ‭the‬ ‭part‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭respondents herein and dismissed the Original Application.‬ ‭W.P(C).No.18230 of 2024 8‬ 2025:KER:58978‬ ‭ ‭8.‬‭We‬‭find‬‭from‬‭the‬‭order‬‭of‬‭the‬‭learned‬‭Tribunal‬‭that‬‭the‬ ‭Tribunal‬ ‭did‬ ‭not‬ ‭consider‬ ‭the‬ ‭issue‬ ‭of‬ ‭delay‬ ‭of‬ ‭11‬ ‭years‬ ‭in‬ ‭approaching the Tribunal as well as this Court.‬ ‭Therefore,‬ ‭we‬ ‭find‬ ‭that‬ ‭no‬ ‭error‬ ‭has‬‭been‬‭committed‬‭by‬ ‭the‬‭learned‬‭Tribunal‬‭in‬‭dismissing‬‭the‬‭Original‬‭Application‬‭on‬ ‭merits.‬‭Accordingly‬‭the‬‭writ‬‭petition‬‭being‬‭bereft‬‭of‬‭merit‬‭and‬ ‭substance is hereby dismissed. No order as to costs.‬ Sd/-‬ ‭ SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI‬ ‭ JUDGE‬ ‭ Sd/-‬ ‭ SYAM KUMAR V.M.‬ ‭ JUDGE‬ ‭ MC/6.8‬ ‭ ‭W.P(C).No.18230 of 2024 9‬ 2025:KER:58978‬ ‭ APPENDIX OF WP(C) 18230/2024‬ ‭ PETITIONER ANNEXURES‬ ‭ Exhibit P-1‬ ‭ ‭RUE‬ ‭ T COPY‬ ‭ OF‬ ‭O.A.121‬ ‭ OF‬ ‭ 2021‬ ‭ALONG‬ WITH ANNEXURES.‬ ‭ Annexure A-3‬ ‭ TRUE‬ ‭ ‭ COPY‬ ‭OF‬‭SUMMARY‬‭ TRIAL‬‭PROCEEDINGS‬ GEN FORM‬ ‭ Annexure A-4‬ ‭ TRUE‬ ‭ ‭ COPY‬ ‭ OF‬ ‭ PUNISHMENT‬ ‭ WARRANT‬ DL/1374/933 DATED 05.04.2010‬ ‭ ‭nnexure A-5‬ A TRUE COPY OF GEN FORM‬ ‭ Annexure A-6‬ ‭ TRUE‬ ‭ ‭ COPY‬ ‭OF‬ ‭ LETTER‬ ‭NO.‬ ‭203/2010/01‬ DATED 16.4.2010‬ ‭ Annexure A-8‬ ‭ TRUE‬ ‭ ‭ COPY‬ ‭OF‬ ‭ LETTER‬‭ PEN/600/D/RA/12100‬ DATED 23.9.2013‬ ‭ Annexure A-9‬ ‭ TRUE‬ ‭ ‭ COPY‬ ‭ OF‬ ‭LETTER‬ ‭NO.‬ ‭ NAVPEN/‬ ‭600/‬ DISMISSAL/123100 DATED 05.03.2020‬ ‭ ‭nnexure A-1‬ A TRUE COPY OF INJURY REPORT‬ ‭ Annexure A-2‬ ‭ TRUE‬ ‭ ‭ COPY‬ ‭ OF‬ ‭MEDICAL‬ ‭ CASE‬ ‭SHEET‬ ‭AND‬ CLINICAL DOCUMENTS‬ ‭ Annexure A-7‬ ‭ TRUE‬ ‭ ‭ COPY‬ ‭ OF‬ ‭ CATEGORIZATION‬ ‭ MEDICAL‬ BOARD PROCEEDINGS‬ ‭ Annexure 10‬ ‭ TRUE‬ ‭ ‭ COPY‬ ‭OF‬ ‭ RECORD‬ ‭ OF‬ ‭ SERVICE‬ ‭OF‬ ‭ THE‬ APPLICANT‬ ‭ ‭nnexure A-11‬ A MA FOR CONDONATION OF DELAY IN FILING‬ ‭ Exhibit P-2‬ ‭ TRUE‬ ‭ ‭ COPY‬‭OF‬‭ THE‬‭ REPLY‬‭STATEMENT‬‭ ALONG‬ WITH ANNEXURES.‬ ‭ Annexure R-1‬ ‭ COPY‬ ‭ ‭ OF‬ ‭ INJURY‬‭ REPORT‬‭ (IAFY2006)‬‭ DATED‬ 12.01.2000‬ ‭ Annexure R-2‬ ‭ COPY‬ ‭ ‭ OF‬ ‭MEDICAL‬ ‭ REPORT‬ ‭ LOW‬ ‭MEDICAL‬ CATEGORY‬ ‭ ‭ WHICH‬ ‭ WAS‬ ‭ REVIEWED‬ ‭ AND‬ UPGRADED FROM TIME TO TIME‬ ‭ Annexure R-3‬ ‭ COPY‬ ‭ ‭ OF‬ ‭ORDER‬ ‭ GRANTING‬ ‭ DUE‬ ‭PROMOTION‬ TO THE NEXT RANK‬ ‭ Annexure R-4‬ ‭ COPY‬ ‭ ‭ OF‬ ‭ INS‬ ‭ VENDURUTHY‬ ‭ GENFORM‬ NO.0913344/S DATED 21.12.2009‬ ‭ Annexure R-5‬ ‭ COPY‬ ‭ ‭ OF‬ ‭ INS‬‭ ANGRE‬‭ GENFORM‬‭ NO.0927670/S‬ DATED 24.12.2009‬ ‭ Annexure R-6‬ ‭ COPY‬ ‭ ‭ OF‬ ‭IHQ‬ ‭ MOD‬ ‭(NAVY)‬ ‭ NEW‬ ‭DELHI‬ LETTER NO.DL/1374/933 DATED 05.04.2010‬ ‭ ‭W.P(C).No.18230 of 2024 10‬ 2025:KER:58978‬ ‭ Annexure R-7‬ ‭ ‭OPY‬ ‭ C OF‬ ‭GENFORM‬ ‭NO.1001866/S‬ ‭ DATED‬ 07.04.2010‬ ‭ Annexure R-8‬ ‭ COPY‬ ‭ ‭ OF‬‭CABS‬‭LETTER‬‭NO.‬‭PEN/600/D/‬‭ RA/‬ 123100 DATED 23.09.2013‬ ‭ Annexure R-9‬ ‭ COPY‬ ‭ OF‬ ‭ NAVPEN'S‬ ‭ LETTER‬ ‭ NO.‬ ‭ NAVPEN/600/DISMISSAL/121300‬ ‭ DATED‬ ‭ 05.03.2020‬ ‭ Annexure R-10‬ ‭ PETITION‬ ‭ ‭ TO‬ ‭ CONDONE‬ ‭ DELAY‬ ‭AND‬ ‭ ACCEPT‬ THE REPLY STATEMENT‬ ‭ Exhibit P-3‬ ‭ TRUE‬‭ ‭ COPY‬‭ OF‬‭ THE‬‭ORDER‬‭ IN‬‭OA‬‭NO.121‬‭ OF‬ 2021‬ ‭ ‭ PASSED‬ ‭ BY‬ ‭ THE‬ ‭ ARMED‬ ‭FORCES‬ TRIBUNAL,‬ ‭ ‭ REGIONAL‬ ‭BENCH‬ ‭ KOCHI‬ ‭ ON‬ 30.06.2023‬ ‭ Exhibit P-4‬ ‭ TRUE‬ ‭ ‭ COPY‬ ‭OF‬ ‭ PUNISHMENT‬ ‭WARRANT‬ ‭FORM‬ OF THE PETITIONER‬ ‭ Exhibit P-5‬ ‭ TRUE‬ ‭ ‭ COPY‬‭ OF‬‭ ORDER‬‭DATED‬‭18.10.2023‬‭ IN‬ OA NO. 111 OF 2022‬ ‭