Direct answer
Section 22(2) permits a request to condone delay on sufficient cause. An old final rejection, continuing underpayment and recomputation of an already accepted pension nevertheless raise different legal questions.
Legal position and important distinctions
Explain the entire period: receipt of the order, treatment or incapacity, actual knowledge and the dates on which steps were taken. Merely calling pension a continuing right does not answer every delay issue. The 2026 Sgt Girish Kumar decision removed a three-year restriction in the specific policy context of existing disability pension and broad banding. It does not erase limitation for every historical rejection of entitlement.
Why a month-wise calculation matters
Original pension, revisions, broad banding, dearness relief and earlier arrears payments may change within one claim period. State the due amount, payment and balance for each segment. Sanction and entitlement commencement can differ. The sanction date is not necessarily the first payable month: examine the order’s effective date and individual eligibility.
Separate three legal questions
Is the underlying entitlement accepted or disputed? Is the application timely or does it require condonation? For which period are arrears payable on the accepted right? When a court removes a restriction for a particular policy class, compare that class with the actual claim. The rate, commencement and method of interest must follow the operative order or applicable law.
Account for money already received
Disclose earlier arrears, partial payments and revised PPOs. Claim the outstanding balance rather than repeating a gross amount already partly paid. For a late application, explain treatment, incapacity, knowledge and earlier steps through a truthful supported chronology.
Practical steps
- Separate the original dispute from any recurring payment error.
- Document the complete delay chronology.
- Address condonation, merits and the arrears period through separate grounds.
Documents to collect
- Historical rejection/PPO
- Treatment, incapacity and correspondence
- Month-wise pension discrepancy
Hypothetical illustration
A sanctioned pension continues, but the revised rate was never applied. The pleading differs from one attacking a twenty-year-old final refusal of pension itself.
Avoid this mistake
If relying on assurances or lack of knowledge, state the actual facts rather than inventing supporting circumstances.
Official sources
- Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007 — sections 2, 3(o), 14–15, 19, 21–24, 29–32
- Union of India v. Sgt Girish Kumar, 2026 INSC 149, 12 February 2026 — particularly paragraphs 15–23
Legal disclaimer
This article provides general legal information and the author’s general analysis, not individual legal advice. Reading it does not create an advocate–client relationship or guarantee an outcome. Rules, policies and judgments can change. Before acting, obtain qualified advice on your documents, applicable dates, jurisdiction and time limits.
Source check: 1 November 2026.