Supreme Court upholds full arrears of disability pension for ex-servicemen without three-year limitation

Exam-focused facts from the 14 February 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

The Supreme Court ruled that eligible ex-servicemen are entitled to full arrears of disability pension from the cut-off dates of 1 January 1996 or 1 January 2006.
The Court dismissed the central government's appeal and confirmed that disability pension is a recognition of sacrifice, not charity or executive largesse.
The Court held that pension is a deferred portion of compensation and a vested property right protected under Article 300A of the Constitution.
The central government had argued that arrears should be limited to three years under the Limitation Act, 1963, but the Court rejected this contention.