The long-running battle over One Rank One Pension (OROP) benefits for Premature Retirement (PMR) veterans has witnessed another significant development. In a fresh judgment delivered in May 2026, the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT), Lucknow Bench, has once again ruled in favour of a PMR veteran and directed the government authorities to extend OROP benefits.
The latest ruling has strengthened the growing judicial trend supporting pension-eligible PMR personnel and has reignited hopes among thousands of ex-servicemen who were excluded from OROP benefits under the Government’s policy.
AFT Lucknow Bench Rules in Favour of PMR Veteran
In OA No. 282/2025, Ex L/Nk Shyam Kishor Kumar vs Union of India, the Armed Forces Tribunal, Lucknow Bench, delivered its judgment on 22 May 2026.
The Tribunal directed the respondents to grant the applicant the benefits of:
- OROP-I
- OROP-II
- OROP-III
The decision is considered significant because it follows and reinforces the landmark judgment delivered by the AFT Principal Bench earlier in January 2025.
Reliance on Landmark PMR Judgment of AFT Principal Bench
While deciding the case, the Lucknow Bench relied heavily on the judgment delivered by the AFT Principal Bench in:
OA No. 313/2022 – Commander Gaurav Mehra vs Union of India
The Principal Bench had held that PMR personnel who are otherwise eligible for pension cannot be arbitrarily excluded from OROP benefits merely because they sought premature retirement.
The latest Lucknow Bench judgment indicates that the reasoning adopted by the Principal Bench continues to influence subsequent PMR-related cases.
What Did the Tribunal Observe?
One of the most important observations made by the Tribunal relates to the constitutional principles of equality.
The Tribunal noted that:
- Pension-eligible PMR personnel form part of the larger class of pensioners.
- Such veterans constitute a homogeneous class for pension-related benefits.
- Denying OROP solely on the basis of premature retirement may amount to discriminatory treatment.
- Such exclusion could violate the principles enshrined under Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India, which guarantee equality before law and equal treatment in public employment.
This observation has become the cornerstone of the judicial reasoning in several PMR-OROP cases.
Government’s Position Remains Unchanged
Despite the favourable judgments from the Armed Forces Tribunal, the Government continues to maintain its original stand.
According to the Government’s interpretation of the OROP Policy dated 07 November 2015, personnel who sought retirement “At Own Request” under the PMR category are not entitled to OROP benefits.
Based on this policy provision, the Government has consistently defended the exclusion of PMR personnel from OROP implementation.
As a result, affected veterans continue to approach judicial forums for relief.
Review Petition Filed Against Principal Bench Judgment
After the AFT Principal Bench’s landmark ruling in January 2025, the Government filed a Review Application (RA No. 9/2025) seeking reconsideration of the decision.
The review proceedings have already taken place. However, as of June 2026:
- The original PMR-friendly judgment has not been completely overturned.
- No final order appears to have nullified the Principal Bench’s findings.
- Various AFT benches continue to grant relief in PMR cases by relying on the earlier judgment.
This is one of the key reasons why PMR veterans are still securing favourable orders before different benches of the Tribunal.
Current Status of PMR–OROP Issue (June 2026)
Positive Developments for PMR Veterans
AFT Principal Bench has ruled in favour of PMR personnel.
AFT Lucknow Bench has granted OROP benefits to a PMR veteran in May 2026.
Fresh PMR-OROP cases continue to be filed and decided in favour of veterans.
Judicial trend presently appears supportive of pension-eligible PMR personnel.
Issues Still Pending
Government has not extended OROP benefits universally to all PMR veterans.
No nationwide policy change has yet been announced.
The Supreme Court has not delivered a final authoritative judgment settling the PMR-OROP dispute for all affected veterans.
Implementation remains dependent on litigation and individual case outcomes.
What Does This Mean for PMR Veterans?
The latest judgment is undoubtedly encouraging for ex-servicemen who retired prematurely but remain pension-eligible.
The decision demonstrates that:
- Courts continue to examine PMR exclusion critically.
- Constitutional principles of equality are receiving significant attention.
- Veterans challenging PMR exclusion are finding support in existing judicial precedents.
- The legal debate surrounding PMR and OROP remains very much alive.
However, veterans should also understand that these judgments do not automatically result in universal implementation for all PMR retirees. Until a final nationwide resolution emerges through policy changes or a definitive Supreme Court verdict, the matter remains legally contested.
Conclusion
The PMR–OROP issue remains one of the most important unresolved pension matters affecting Indian Armed Forces veterans. The latest decision of the AFT Lucknow Bench in favour of Ex L/Nk Shyam Kishor Kumar has further strengthened the judicial trend supporting pension-eligible PMR personnel.
While the Government continues to defend PMR exclusion under the 2015 OROP policy, tribunal rulings are increasingly questioning the legality of treating PMR pensioners differently from other pensioners.
For now, the court trend appears favourable to PMR veterans, but nationwide implementation and final policy clarity are still awaited. The coming months could prove crucial in determining whether PMR veterans ultimately secure equal OROP benefits across the country.
Disclaimer: This article is based on available judicial developments and publicly discussed legal proceedings as of June 2026. Veterans should consult official orders, legal experts, or veteran welfare organizations before taking any legal or administrative action based on these developments.