Chennai – I am Lt Col N Thiagarajan (Retd), who wore the olive green for 28 proud years from a young soldier facing the enemy on frozen borders, to warrior in counterinsurgency, and as an officer countering the enemy in many war-like situations. Soldiers spilled blood, lost limbs, and buried friends to keep India and its people safe. Our disabilities are badges of honour, etched from bullets, blasts, and many more untold stories. Yet today, the Finance Bill 2026 stabs soldiers in the back. Through Amendments relating to direct taxes Clause 6 (ix), it amends the Income-tax Act to tax jawans’ disability pensions, but only if they didn’t get “invalided out.” Superannuated or Premature Retirement (PMR) heroes who fought wars despite their disabilities will see their pensions treated as ordinary income from April 1, 2026. This isn’t policy; it’s a slap to every veteran limping through life. Government Bypasses Supreme Court, Violating Sacred Judicial Shields Remember the Supreme Court’s ironclad stand? In 2019, it stayed CBDT Circular No. 13/2019, ruling that no mere executive order can tax disability pensions earned in service. The Hon’ble Court protected disabled jawans, affirming these pensions honour sacrifices, not whims. Courts ordered exemptions, upholding Article 14’s equality, no soldier’s pain is “lesser” based on exit mode. But now? This Bill sneaks the tax directly into law, overriding those orders like a bully evading the referee. It’s a sly bypass, turning judicial victory into dust.
PMR? Even that’s often denied to PMR jawans, bureaucrats block it, forcing us to serve broken bodies till the end. We’ve guarded borders our whole lives; post-retirement, we’re battling courts for basic dignity and justice. Justice delayed is justice denied, years of appeals and dragged out hearings leave us penniless and humiliated. A Cruel Divide Among the Wounded This Bill carves us into “worthy” and “unworthy” :Invalided-out brothers: Tax-free. Superannuated or PMR fighters: Taxed, despite the same scars from the same field. Why punish the one who protected the nation even after becoming disabled? Our wounds don’t heal at superannuation or PMR they ache forever, with endless medical bills, family burdens, and shattered dreams. We’ve given our lives and limbs for the Tricolour; is taxing our pension the legacy of heartless people sitting in chairs, elected by the public for service? Past pensions before April 2026 are safe no back taxes. But from now, TDS will bite monthly, stripping our lifeline. Ongoing cases crumble; fresh battles loom in courts we’ve already haunted too long. Time and again, delays mock us: Supreme Court orders ignored, ESM pleas unheard, PMR denials routine. We protected the nation at gunpoint; now we plead in courtrooms for decorum and respect.
CALL TO ALL PARLIAMENTARIANS & NATIONWIDE VETERAN MOBILIZATION
Hon’ble MPs and all party leaders RISE IN PARLIAMENT! Oppose this clause before both Houses approve. You hold the power to protect soldiers who gave everything for India. Amend it now, history will honour your stand for Article 14 equality and the nation’s soldiers’ dignity.
Veterans across streets, villages, and cities: Raise your voice everywhere! Flood MPs’ offices, social media, and streets for our dignity. Unite like in battle no one left behind. Contact your local MPs TODAY. Rally, protest peacefully, demand dignity. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, let every corner echo: as Kargil war veteran Major DP Singh said “fight for seniors who fought for us” and before the future generation bleeds in vain.
“It was my dharma to protect the nation; now it is my dharma to defend the dignity of my soldiers.”
