In Brief
An Army Medical Corps officer was discharged after 13 years 8 months of service (short of the 15-year pension requirement) on grounds of unsatisfactory conduct based on six red ink entries. He was also denied disability pension. The High Court had directed reconsideration under a 1989 Army circular providing safeguards against discharge when an officer approaches pensionable service, but the authorities rejected his claim without considering relevant circumstances. The Supreme Court held that merely crossing the four-entry threshold does not mandate discharge. The Court set aside the discharge, treating the officer as continuing in service until he completed qualifying service for pension, and directed grant of pension and continuity benefits within four months.", "subject_tags">["Military Law", "Administrative Law", "Armed Forces Tribunal", "Army Rules", "Discharge from Service", "Pension", "Natural Justice", "Proportionality", "Discretionary Powers", "Disability Pension"]
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