The Supreme Court on Monday nudged the Centre to make a “one-time” exception and grant pension to a Kargil army veteran discharged from service for alcohol dependence.

“Ms Divan, you have to look at the human side of justice. Here is a man who has served in the front. If we interfere with his pension now, it will affect his family…. We judges are also human. When we see coffins being carried, you know how we all feel,” Justice D.Y. Chandrachud told additional solicitor-general Madhavi Divan during a hearing.

The bench, which included Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, made the observation while dealing with an appeal from the Centre against a ruling by the Armed Forces Tribunal’s principal bench in Delhi. The tribunal had directed the government to grant disability pension to jawan Naginder Singh.

Divan asserted that alcohol dependence was a serious matter for the armed forces, which had zero-tolerance for indiscipline. She said the tribunal had erroneously ruled that alcohol dependence amounted to a disability.

Justice Chandrachud said Singh had protected the country’s interests on the borders. “Please try and carve an exception for him. You have to see and apply broader perspective with regard to his family,” the bench said.

The next hearing is on August 8, by when the Centre is expected to come up with its stand.