“The War Wounded Foundation once again took part in the Mumbai Marathon on 19 January 2014. This time they took part in the Dream Run which is longer than the run for Senior Citizens. Fifteen war disabled soldiers and officers from various states of the country took part in the event to bring to the notice of the public what the army does for the nation and that the war disabled are as good, if not better, than the non-disabled.” Enthusiastic crowds cheered the war heroes, clapping and cheering for them and giving them the ‘thumbs up’ and saying ‘We are with you’. However Defence Ministry thinks differently. Former Vice-Chief, Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi lost his leg in the 1965 Indo- Pak war. He served with 70 per cent disability, which was enhanced to 75 % by the 5th Pay Commission but the Defence War Wounded Foundation members in Mumbai.
Ministry refused to pay. When the Armed Forces Tribunal directed the Defence Ministry to pay the modest increase, its Department of Ex- Servicemen Welfare appealed in the Supreme Court, dragging Oberoi into further litigation. For almost two years, this issue has remained pending. Not only that, Defence Ministry has made Oberoi’s case as a test case for all future appeals.
