Although the officer has served his complete term with the IAF until his superannuation in December 1994, he has been denied the disability pension on the grounds that his disability `was neither attributable nor aggravated by service'. His appeal to the Ministry of Defence and the office of the Armed Force Medical Services (Pensions) have gone unheard.

The determined officer is still carrying on correspondence with all concerned and waiting for a clear reply from the authorities, so that he could take the next step. However, he is still being told that his case has been `referred to the appropriate authorities'. It is five years since he has retired.

The story of Wing Commander S S Dhingra (retired), would be a model one, apart from the fact thatthe end did not turn out to be `happily ever after'.

Dhingra, winner of the `Most efficient orthopaedically handicapped person' national award of 1985, served the IAF in the accounts department from 1964 to 1994, most of the time doubling up as legal officer - investigating embezzlement cases and conducting court martials.

Five years into service and ten months into marriage, until then busy, the normal life of Dhingra turned completely upside down. On the midnight intervening September 18/19, 1969, Dhingra, then only 26, suffered from a massive cerebral stroke (sub-arachnoide haemorrhage) that left him in coma for three months, hospitalised for more than one-and-a-half year and his right side 30 per cent paralysed.

With his never-say-die attitude and a lot of help from the IAF, Dhingra emerged out of his stroke of bad luck and resumed his duties in November 1970 -- being declared fit for sedentary duties by service medical authorities.

After an uneventful but satisfactory service period of fiveyears, Dhingra was posted to Headquarters Maintenance Command, IAF, Nagpur, in 1976. In Nagpur, apart from his regular accounting duties, Dhingra was again assigned to legal duties that required him to travel outstation. He conducted court martials as prosecutor as well as defending officer and was also directed to handle cash -- a job involving high mental stress -- in spite of the specific orders that he was fit only for sedentary duties.

``I never said no to any assignment and never gave my health a second thought as I enjoyed my work,'' Dhingra, who has settled in city, told The Indian Express. However, the situation took its toll and in 1981, while in office, Dhingra's blood pressure shot up to a dangerous high and he had to be treated at the office itself.

Following this incident, Dhingra was send to the Command Hospital, Pune, from where he was referred to Chennai (then Madras) for CAT-SCAN. After various tests, the medical authorities at Pune concluded that Dhingra's disability hadaggravated to 60 per cent -- attributable to service. He was then referred to the Army Hospital, Delhi Cantonment, where tests were conducted for more than a month. The medical authorities there also strictly opined that Dhingra should not be employed on duties involving cash handling, as it was detrimental to his health. However, he was declared fit to continue in service.

Later, Dhingra was posted at Delhi and then Chandigarh in 1988, where again he was directed to undertake legal duties involving frequent journeys and unearthly hours. He had to stay in Army Mess and had to refrain from the suggested diet. In 1991, while conducting a court martial at Patiala, Dhingra once again fell ill, with high blood pressure. On his repeated request, he was shifted out of Chandigarh in 1992, posted at New Delhi, from where, again upon his request, he was given final posting at HMC, IAF, Nagpur, May 1994.

The blow fell three months prior to his retirement. Dhingra reeived a letter from the Ministry of Defence, whichsaid that he was not entitled to disability pension as his disability -- both sub-archnoide haemorrhage (spastic hemiplegia) and hypertension -- were `neither attributable nor aggravated by service'. He was also asked to appeal against the decision within six months, if he so wanted. Dhingra filed his appeal on February 10, 1995.

More than four years after that, Dhingra is a bitter man. ``I do not deny that the IAF has been good to me. I am getting my regular pension and the other benefits. Had it not been for the services, I would not have got the best of medical treatment,'' he says. But, he adds, why shouldn't he get the disability pension which is lawfully due to him.

``That I was continued in the service inspite of my handicap proves that my disability was attributable to service. My later medical records prove that my health deteriorated during service. Then why I am being denied my right?'' he asks. He mentions that any serviceman, who suffers a disability not attributable to service is immediatelyboarded out of service medically. That he continued in the service until his superannuation, itself makes him due for the disability pension, he says.

Meanwhile, his horde of correspondence to everyone concerned has failed to elicit any response. ``Let them at least say no, so that I can proceed with legal action,'' he says. But the Ministry of Defence and the office of the Director General of Armed Force Medical Service (Pensions) continue to toss the ball in each other's court, denying any concrete reply to Dhingra. Seems termite of red-tapism has entered the portals of armed forces.