DEFINITION OF EX-SERVICEMEN
The eligibility of the retired defence personnel to the status of Ex-servicemen is governed by the definition as laid down by the Department of Personnel and Training. The definition has been undergoing changes from time to time. ‘The following is the broad categorization:-
Those released before Olst July, 68:- Any person who had served in any rank (whether as combc~tant or not) in the Armed Forces of the Union and has been released from there other than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency.
Those released on or- after 01 st July, 68 but before Olst July, 79:- Any person who had served in any rank (whether as combatant or not) in the Armed Forces of the Union for a continuous period of not less than six months after attestation and released from there other than by way of dismissal or discharge an account of misconduct or inefficiency.
Those released on or af’ier July, 79 but before 01 st July, 87:- Any person who had served in any rank (whether as combatant or not) in the Armed
Forces of the Union for a continuous period of not less than six months after attestation if discharged for reasons other than at their own request or by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency and not.less than 5 years of service if discharged at own request.
Those released on or after 01 st July, 87:- Any person who had served in any rank (whether as combatant or not) in the Armed Forces of the Union and was released/retired with any kind of pension from defence budget or released on completion of specific terms of engagement with gratuity other than at his own request or by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency Government of India, Ministry of defence, vide their Office Memorandum No. 12/1/2005/D(Res) dated -1 st Feb., 2006 has conveyed that it has been decided with the approval of Hon’ble Raksha Mantri that such recruits who are boarded out/released on medical grounds and granted medical/disability pension, will also be covered under the category of Ex-servicemen for all practical purposes.
Officer cadets boarded out of training academies will be treated as Ex-servicemen only for the purpose of employment in civil services.
The eligibility of the person to the status of Ex-serviceman will be governed by the definition in vogue at the time of his/her release/discharge and will not be affected by the changes in the definition subsequent to his/her release/discharge.
In addition the personnel of Territorial Army of the Categories viz. pension holders for continuous embodied service, persons with disability attributable to Military service, and the personnel of the Army and retired from such service i.e. directly from the Army Postal service itself without reversion to Post & Telegraph Department with a pension or who have been released from such service on medical grounds attributable to Military Service or Circumstances beyond their control and awarded medical or other disability pension are also covered within the definition of Ex-Servicemen with effect from 19th July, 1989.
Armed Forces of the Union means the Army, Navy and Air Force of the Indian union including Armed Forces of the former Indian States but excludes the persons who have served in Defence Security Corps, General Reserve Engineering Force, Lok Sahyak Sena and Para Military Forces.