It is submitted that such a huge financial burden in one stroke will disturb the allocation already made for other public purposes which may not be in larger interest of the nation particularly at the fag end of the financial year 2022-23,” the government said in an application moved before the court.

“Upon taking the overall stock of the position as it exists, it is apparent that the number of pensioners in whose cases appear to be dispersed is 25 lakhs ex- servicemen and the amount comes to approximately ₹28,000 crores. Requesting the top court to modify the orders passed in March 2022 and February 2023, the Centre sought to disburse outstanding arrears to ex-servicemen in four half-yearly instalments, citing a general practice of the government to pay any arrears in instalments as a “prudent fiscal measure”. Clearing in one go, all dues to at least 1.6 million army pensioners under the one rank, one pension (OROP) scheme may not be in the larger interest of the nation, the Union government told the Supreme Court on Monday, arguing that this could disturb allocations made for other public purposes.

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