Hyderabad: Slamming the Centre of its soldier-friendly claims, Army veterans and pensioners said that the move to do away with exemption of tax benefits to disabled soldiers was unjust.
“SBI implemented the taxation policy retrospectively. It calculated tax arrears and deducted the entire pension for the month. To keep the zero balance account ‘alive’, they credited `100 in the pension account,” said Colonel T. Anand, who is posted in the city.
“Most of the disabled soldiers are not employed and they only live on pension,” he said.
“This is the most illogical and insensitive action that can be taken by a government against its retired and disabled soldiers,” he added.
As per norm, whenever any arrears are to be recovered not more than one third is recovered in a month from the salary or pension.
They sought clarification from the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Bipin Rawat, who reportedly favoured the decision to do away with tax exemption for disabled soldiers.
