Restore medical treatment of ex-serviceman's dependent under ECHS regardless of PWD Act listing: AFT to MoD
Chandigarh: The ministry of defence (MoD) cannot deny medical treatment under the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) to dependents of a member merely because their ailment is not listed as a disability under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Act, 2016, according to an Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) ruling.
The tribunal also clarified that the authorities are supposed to consider practical as well as compassionate aspects when cancelling or withdrawing any policy or letter and "are under obligation to see that no one is harmed".
A division bench comprising Justice Anil Kumar, judicial member, and Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain, administration member of AFT Lucknow, passed these orders while allowing an application filed by Sheela Devi, widow of Havildar Ganga Sahay.
She sought directions to issue an order to the MoD to continue her son's treatment after a kidney transplant, which was stopped after he turned 25 years, as per a policy letter dated Dec 5, 2017, issued by the ministry of defence (DoESW).
The applicant's husband joined the Indian Army in 1974, was discharged from service in 1996, and died in 2003. Thereafter, the applicant was issued an ECHS card, which included all her family members.
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Her son, Mohit Kumar, was admitted to the Command Hospital, Lucknow, in Aug 2021 and was diagnosed with 'Advanced Renal Dysfunction with Small Echogenic Kidney' and was advised to undergo a kidney transplant.
The applicant donated a kidney to her son, which was transplanted on June 14, 2023, and since then, her son has been under treatment through ECHS. However, she was informed by the authorities that her son does not fall under the PWD Act, 2016, and therefore, he is not eligible for further treatment through ECHS beyond the age of 25.
Aggrieved by the authorities' decision, she approached the AFT Lucknow. She contended that after her husband's death, she is in a financial crisis as she does not have any other source of income except a meagre family pension.
The counsel for the applicant further submitted that her son's disability (chronic kidney disease) being a renal transplant case was permanent in nature and assessed at 80-90%. He also submitted that the treatment could not be stopped on the grounds of the disease not being included in the list of disabilities under the PWD Act, 2016, as he has been under treatment for chronic kidney disease since Aug 2021.
Counsel representing the MoD reiterated that the treatment of the applicant's son was stopped as per rules because the kidney disease is not included in the list of 21 disabilities under the PWD Act, 2016, and her son has crossed the permissible age of 25 years.
After hearing all the parties, the AFT held that the authorities acted in a very casual manner without considering the fact that he is suffering from a serious kidney ailment that threatens his life.
In its detailed order released last week, the AFT further directed the MoD to restore or restart the treatment, considering it as a special case, and to reimburse the expenses incurred by the applicant in the treatment of her son from the date of stoppage of the treatment until its actual restoration.
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