One Rank One Pension- Payment or 9% interest by March 15

The Supreme Court has reprimanded the Ministry of Defense in the case of outstanding pension payments under the One Rank One Pension (OROP) policy to the armed forces. Expressing displeasure over the issue of the order to make the outstanding payment in installments, the court said, our order will have to be followed. If paid by March 15, interest will be imposed at the rate of 9%. The court has sought a personal affidavit from the Pension Affairs Secretary of the Ministry of Defense.
The Supreme Court on 9 January gave the Center till March 15 for the total outstanding payment of OROP. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense issued a letter to pay the arrears in 4 installments on 20 January, which was challenged by ex-servicemen in court. On this, a bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud said, "We had given time till March 15." How can you order payment in installments?
The ministry does not have a unilateral right to extend the time. This is not a war, but a matter of rule of law. The purity of the court process should remain. If the Defense Secretary does not withdraw the notification, then we will issue a contempt notice.
Additional Solicitor General N. Venkatramani said that there are about 22 lakh pensioners. The government is about 8 lakhs to 2500 crores. Has paid. Trying to pay the remaining at one time by 31 March.
One Rank One Pension (OROP) means the same pension for the same rank and equal duration of service. In this, the date of retirement does not matter. That is if an officer served in the armed forces for 15 years from 1985 to 2000 and another officer was in service from 1995 to 2010, then both will get the same pension. This will benefit 25 lakh ex-servicemen.
According to the information, the number of beneficiaries has crossed 25 lakhs after July 1, 2014, including retired soldiers. With this, Rs 8,450 crore is on the government. There will be an additional burden. After the amendment, the pension scheme will also be given arrears or dues from July 2019 to June 2022. That is, a total of Rs 23,638.07 crore will be given.
Arrears will be paid in four half-yearly installments. Its benefit will be given to all defence forces and family pensioners.