Defence pay scales and growing dissatisfaction

By V K Das

An amazing situation exists in India where the defence personnel have to approach the Courts to get justice. No other service in India has to do that and nowhere in the world defence personnel have to knock at the doors of judges to get justice. Strangely all judgements go against the Govt yet they do not mend their ways. How and why this has happened?

When India became independent it was felt that the services, both civil and military, were too highly paid and a poor country needing every penny to spend on development could not afford that. Accordingly, the first pay commission was formed to go into the matter. It recommended lower pay scales for both but the ICS and the KCIOs escaped its cuts on the plea that they were Imperial services and should not be touched - strange argument but they got away with it, because they wielded power and the political leadership being novices in the art of governance needed them. The IAS and the def services were brought at par with Rs 50 difference in favour of defence as special disturbance and kit maintenance allowance.

This resulted in disgruntlement but died out soon as the ICOs got very quick promotions and the loss of pay was more than made up by the salary of higher ranks at a very young age. Lt Cols - six years, Brigs - 12 years and Maj Gens - 16 years. Gen Chaudhry was GOC Armd Div and Governor of Hy'bad with 18 years of service! Carriappa became Chief with 30 years of service. The KCIOs had their bread buttered on both sides.

In 1959 came the second pay commission. No one knew about it. I was Adjt of my Regt when in the pay slip I found an increase of Rs 50 in my pay with some arrears. I had to be told by my head clerk that it was on account of the second pay commission. I went to the mess and broke the good news to the officers assembled at the bar. There was jubilation all around. However, one major sahib did not like my talking of pay scales and called me aside to tick me off by saying why I was discussing pay scales at the bar. "Are you a soldier or a mercenary?". Those were the days!

Things changed and in 1973 when I was doing the HC course, the then Chief, Gen Bewoor came to give a talk. In the tea break we gathered around him and talked of nothing but the impending third pay commission report that was expected soon. He assured us that he will ensure that we get our dues.  No one said it was infra dig to discuss pay scales!

In 1974 while I was serving in the MO Dte after the HC Course the then RM, Jagjivan Ram said in a Monday morning meeting that it was causing a lot of discontentment in def services that their pay scales had not been revised while the IAS were the first to get the raise and the others followed soon after. He asked the Def Secy to covey to the Cabinet Secy and Finance Secy that he will not accept any further delay and the matter must be resolved by that evening and he will leave the office only after he was given the report that it had been done. He then looked at the Chief who nodded his satisfaction. 

After a few hours I went to the Chief's office to hand over a Top Secret file to the Chief but was told by the MA that I could not go in as there was a meeting on with Cab Secy and others. The meeting lasted several hours and there was agreement on meeting the two views mid-way. It was unthinkable that the soldiers will be allowed to go to the Courts to seek justice. Then came the fourth pay commission and with the IAS at the helm of affairs and weak political and military leadership things went out of hand and the soldiers were forced to go to the Courts where invariably they are getting judgements in their favour, 4th, 5th and 6th pay commission decision have all been overturned in favour of the military personnel and against the Govt. What is the psychological effect of this?

Today the soldier thinks that he has three enemies to face-two across the border that he is trained and equipped to deal with and one in the South Block behind his back ready to stab him anytime. He has to learn to deal with them. He is doing so but at the cost of discipline and morale. This is something that our political and military leadership should ponder over. They should study the mechanism in place in foreign armies and ensure that the country's soldiery does not have to take to legal recourse and maintains its faith and loyalty to the political and military leadership of the country. The responsibility for ensuring this lies with the top leadership-both civil and military.

Central Government and Railway Pensioner – AIRF has Written to Department of Pension for Discussing Eight Pension Related Matters

ALL INDIA RAILWAYMEN’S FEDERATION

4, State Entry Road, New Delhi-110055 INDIA

No.AIRF/NC/JCM(GC)(Pension)

May 18, 2013

The Secretary,

Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare,

Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market,

New Delhi-110003

Dear Sir,

Sub: Agenda items

We are sending herewith 08 agenda items on pensionary matters for discussing the same in the forthcoming meeting with the Secretary( Pension).

Yours faithfully,

sd/-

(Shiva Gopal Mishra)

General Secretary

Item No.1

Sub: Less payment of pension to pre-96 and pre-2006 retirees

It has been noted that the employees drawing pay scale of Rs.1400-2300 in V CPC were allotted pay scale of Rs.5000-8000 in V CPC, and subsequently they were placed in scale Rs.9300-34800 in PB-2 with Grade Pay of Rs.4200. But it is surprising that, pre-1996 retirees have been placed in PB-I pay scale Rs.5200-20200 with Grade Pay of Rs.2800.

In AIRF’s opinion, this is discrimination with the employees retired before 1.1.1996.

Necessary action, therefore, needs to be taken in the matter urgently.

Item No.2

Sub: Provision of HRA for Pensioners and Family Pensioners

A Government Servant while in service is paid either House Rent Allowance orgovernment accommodation. After retirement he is left with no facility ofgovernment accommodation or House Rent Allowance. As such, a pensioner has to pay a major part of his pension as a rent for accommodation. On account of high prices of residential houses, it is not possible for a retired employee to purchase even a small house out of his retirement dues.

AIRF, therefore, requests that, some provision, for payment of HRA to Pensioners/Family Pensioners, should be made to enable them to spend their retirement life comfortably.

Item No.3

Sub: Increase in Family Pension

A government employee gets pension @ 50%of his Basic Pay after retirement, which is considered sufficient to meet the expenses on day-to-day requirement of the family such as food, clothes etc., but after the demise of pensioner, only 30% pension is admissible as Family Pension to his widow. As such, the family gets 40% less pension in comparison to the pension admissible to the employee. It is understood that, after the demise of pensioner, the expenses are not reduced by 50%, which is perhaps the base of fixing FarnIy Pension. Moreover. besides expenses on food, there are some other miscellaneous expenses, which cannot be overlooked. In the circumstances, the existing provision of 30% pension to the family of deceased pensioner is inadequate for survival.  AIRE is, therefore, of the view that the Family Pension should be increased at least from 30% to 40%.

Item No.4

Sub: Arbitrary orders denying revision of Pension and Family Pension in favour of the pensioners who were in receipt of Compulsory Retirement Pension and Compassionate Allowance under Rules 40 and 41 of the Central Civil Services(Pension) Rules, 1972

In terms of rule 40 & 41 of Central Civil Services(Pension) Rules, 1972, CompulsoryRetirement Pension and Compassionate Allowance are sanctioned. Such Compulsory Retirement Pension and Compassionate Allowance, whenever sanctioned, are revised at par with other pensioners. But DOP&PW’s O.M. No.38/37/08—P&PW(A) dated 03.10.2008 has stated that, there should not be any revision on the Compulsory Retirement Pension and Compassionate Allowance. This order will adversely affect the living standard of the such retired employee.  AIRF, therefore, urges upon that, this order may please be called back and the revision, already undertaken, should be allowed to stay.

Item No.5

Sub: Revision of PPO in favour of Pensioners/Family Pensioners

Ministry of PPG&P(Departrnent of Pension) vide Para 11 of F. No. 38/ 37/08-P&PW(A) dated 01.09.2008 has issued order that revised PPO should be suo-moto issued by the pension sanctioning authority. This has been revised vide PPG&PW’s subsequent F. No.38/37/08—P&PW(A) Pt. I dated 14.10.2008 stipulating that the disbursing authority should furnish calculation in respect of revision of Pension/Family Pension to the pension sanctioning authority, and on receipt of the same, pension sanctioning authority would revise the PPO in favour of pensioner/family pensioner.

This order has created utter confusion and the same was raised in the ordinary meeting of the NCIJCM, held on 15.05.2010, when it was assured that the matter would be sorted out early. Unfortunately, after lapse of long 18 months, the matter could not be sorted out, resulting in, large number of pensioners/family pensioners of pre 01.01.2006 could not get the revised PPO.

AIRF, therefore, urges that, necessary action may be taken to issue revise PPO to the Pensioners/Family Pensioners of pre 01.01.2006 retirees.

Item No.6

Sub: Fixation of pension of pre-2006 retirees in terms of VI CPC pay scales

AIRF feels that the pension of pre-2006 retirees should be fixed on the basis of corresponding pay stage in new Pay Band plus Grade Pay of their last pay drawn in pay scale held by them at the time of their retirement.

In this regard, the Hon’ble CAT, New Delhi vide its judgement dated 01.11.2011 in OA Nos.0655/2010, 3079/2009, 306/2010 and 0507/2010 have given the direction to fix the pension of pre-2006 retirees as stated above.

AIRF understood that, instead of Implementing the judgement of the CAT, DoP&PW has challenged the judgement before the Hon’ble High Court, New Delhi.

AIRF, therefore, requests, that the DoP&PW, instead of fighting against Hon’ble CAT’s orders, may consider the justified demand in the interest of the pre-2006 retirees.

Item No.7

Sub: Restoration of commuted portion of pension

Presently, there is a provision for restoration of commuted portion of pension after 15 years. On an average, a small number of pensioners attain the age of 75 years. As such, most of the pensioners are deprived of the benefit of restoration of pension.

AIRF, therefore, requests that the period of 15 years may be reduced to 12 years so that some more pensioners could get the benefit of restoration of commuted portion of pension.

In this connection, it is pertinent to mention that the Fifth CPC had also recommended to reduce this period to 12 years.

Item No.8

Sub: Enhancement of age related to additional basic pension

There has been a demand from certain Pensioners Associations! Pensioners Samaj on the issue of enhancement of pension on attaining the age of 65, 70, 75 and 80 and so on by 5% every time.

Presently, age related enhancement in pension is admissible to the pensioners having 80 years of age completed.

As all are well aware that, a handful pensioners survive up to the age of 80 years. As such, majority of pensioners are unable to get the benefit of enhanced pension.

AIRF, therefore, requests the government to take a positive view to reduce minimum age limit from 80 to 65 years for giving the benefit of enhanced pension.

BE INDIAN, BUT NOT IN INDIA

Forwarded as received. Received from NRI businessman's Group in India

VERY INTERESTING AND TRUE, MUST READ

This is worth a read. Who ever put this together (is no fool and has the right vision about India) makes sense and is an eye opener.

I remember Brits in our own country India, Indians use to say YES SIR joining their hands and bowing to them.

What for? Because of the white skin? No wonder Brit's ruled the world and took us as fools? India would have been Britain if our ancestors were smart enough.

Thought Provoking:

I would like to sum up our performance in the 20th century in one sentence. Indians have succeeded in countries ruled by whites, but failed in their own. This outcome would have astonished leaders of our independence movement. They declared Indians were kept down by white rule and couldflourish only under self-rule. This seemed self-evident. The harsh reality today is that Indians are succeeding brilliantly in countries ruled by whites, but failing in India. They are flourishing in the USA and Britain.

But those that stay in India are pulled down by an outrageous system that fails to reward merit or talent, fails to allow people and businesses to grow, and keeps real power with leaders, politicians, and assorted manipulators. Once Indians go to white-ruled countries, they soar and conquer summits once occupied only by whites.

Rono Dutta has become head of United Airlines, the biggest airline in the world ( Fleet size -705 Aircraft and 381 destinations world wide). Had he stayed in India, he would have no chance in Indian Airlines. Even if the top job there was given to him by some godfather, politicians and trade unionists would have ensured that he could never run it like United Airlines. Vikram Pundit was head of Citigroup until recently, which operates Citibank, one of the largest banks in the world.

Rana Talwar has become head of Standard Chartered Bank, one of the biggest multinational banks in Britain, while still in his 40s. Had he been in India, he would perhaps be a local manager in the State Bank, taking orders from politicians to give loans to politically favored clients.

Lakhsmi Mittal has become the biggest steel baron in the world, with steel plants in the US, Kazakhstan, Germany, Mexico, Trinidad and Indonesia. India's socialist policies reserved the domestic steel industry for the public sector. So Lakhsmi Mittal went to Indonesia to run his family's first steel plant there. Once freed from the shackles of India, he conquered the world.

Subhash Chandra of Zee TV has become a global media king, one of the few to beat Rupert Murdoch. He could never have risen had he been limited to India, which decreed a TV monopoly for Indian company, Doordarshan. But technology came to his aid: satellite TV made it possible for him to target India from Hong Kong. Once he escaped Indian rules and soil, he soared.

You may not have heard of 48-year old Gururaj Deshpande. His communications company, Sycamore, is currently valued by the US stock market at over $30 billion, making him perhaps one of the richest Indians in the world. Had he remained in India, he would probably be a politician in the Department of Telecommunications.

Arun Netravali has become president of Bell Labs, one of the biggest research and development centers in the world with 30,000 inventions and several Nobel Prizes to its credit. Had he been in India, he would probably be struggling in the middle cadre of Indian Telephone Industries. Silicon Valley alone contains over 100,000 Indian millionaires.

Indra Krishnamurthy Nooyi has been the CEO of PepsiCo Inc. since 2006, a Fortune 500 company. Sabeer Bhatia invented Hotmail and sold it to Microsoft for $ 400 million. Victor Menezes, born in Pune in 1949, was number two in Citibank until late last year. Shailesh Mehta is CEO of Providian, a top US financial services company. Also at or near the top are Rakesh Gangwal of US Air, Jamshd Wadia of Arthur Andersen, and Aman Mehta of Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corp.

In Washington DC, the Indian CEO High Tech Council has no less than 200 members, all high tech-chiefs. While Indians have soared, India has stagnated. At independence India was the most advanced of all colonies, with the best prospects.

Today with a GNP per head of $370, it occupies a lowly 177th position among 209 countries of the world. But poverty is by no means the only or main problem. India* *ranks near the bottom in the United Nation's Human Development Index, but high up in Transparency International's Corruption Index.

The politician-raj brought in by socialist policies is only one reason for India 's failure. The more sordid reason is the rule-based society we inherited from the British Raj is today in tatters. Instead money, muscle and influence matter most.

At independence we were justly proud of our politicians. Today, we regard them as scoundrels and criminals. They have created a jungle of laws in the holy name of socialism, and used these to line their pockets and create patronage networks. No influential crook suffers. The Mafia flourish unhindered because they have political links.

The sons of police officers believe they have a license to rape and kill. Talent cannot take you far amid such bad governance.

We are reverting to our ancient feudal system where no rules applied to the powerful. The British Raj brought in abstract concepts of justice for all, equality before the law. These were maintained in the early years of independence. But sixty years later, citizens wail that India is a lawless land where no rules are obeyed.

I have heard of an IAS probationer at the Delhi training academy pointing out that in India before the British came, making money and distributing favors to relatives was not considered a perversion of power, it was the very rationale of power. A feudal official had a duty to enrich his family and caste.

Then the British came and imposed a new ethical code on officials. But, he asked, why should we continue to choose British customs over Indian ones now that we are independent?

The lack of transparent rules, properly enforced, is a major reason why talented Indians cannot rise in India. A second reason is the politician-raj, which remains intact despite supposed liberalization. But once talented Indians go to rule-based societies in the west, they take off. In those societies all people play by the same rules, all have freedom to innovate without being strangled by regulations.

This, then, is why Indians succeed in countries ruled by Non-Indians, and fail in their own.

It is the saddest story of the century. Be Indian BUT Not in INDIA

Vandna

The views expressed by the author are his personal and this blog does not necessarily subscribe to them. It is for the readers to analyse the facts and figures to form opinions.

Why Veterans Issues Ignored With Impunity?

Sh AK Antony                                                          Dated:    18 May 2013

Raksha Mantri

WHY VETERANS ISSUES IGNORED WITH IMPUNITY?

Dear Sh. A.K. Antony,

1.   We have been writing to you  for your intervention to address anomalies, discrepancies and deficiencies in Pay & Pensions, One Rank One Pension (OROP), Health Care, Registration as Voters at the place of posting in respect of serving  defence personnel, canteen facilities to the veterans, restructuring of DESW, freeing the AFTs from the  MoD Control etc. While a miniscule of our demands have been accepted but sadly most of our major issues/demands still require to be attended to by your Ministry.  The fact, your good self has not   even acknowledged our letters, leave alone taking action, is what makes us feel hurt, anguished and angry.  Our request to meet our delegation has also not been granted by you as yet.

2.   Mr. Defence Minster, we are your erstwhile soldiers and expect you to meet our genuine concerns and spare us from harassment and injustice.  May we ask you the following:-

(a)  Why has the recommendations of Rajya Sabha Petition Committee on OROP, presented in the Rajya Sabha on 19 Dec 2011 strongly recommending the grant of OROP holistically  to all defence personnel, not been accepted so far ?  Your reply in the Parliament and outside that “We are bridging the gap” does not inspire any confidence since OROP means REMOVAL OF THE GAP and not bridging.  Even the legal view is in favour of grant of OROP.  Defence fraternity alongwith their family members and supporters have.  “Voting Power” of over Ten Crores.  Your continuous neglect of and injustices to the Defnece Forces, both serving and retired have already antagonised this large population of the country. 

(b) Why recent enhancement of pensions to correct a serious intentionally introduced anomaly in 6^th CPC award and corrected by the courts, has been made effective from 24 Sep 2012 instead of 01 Jan 2006?  The recent judgement dated 29^th April 2013 of Delhi High Court where Govt petition has been dismissed and the 6^th CPC arrears are to be paid from 01 Jan 2006 needs to be implemented for the Defence personnel also at the earliest.

(c)  Why the AFTs have not been made free from the Administrative Control of MoD and placed under the Law Ministry?  Why the civil contempt powers have not been granted to the AFTs so far?  The AFTs which were created to provide speedy and economical justice to the Defence personnel, infact have become big hurdle in dispensing the justice to        them.  Every case is being contested against the judgement of AFTs by MoD in the SC. 

(d)  Strange is the system where the Govt is fighting against its own soldiers.  The case of the Solicitor General not appearing for scheduled hearings in SC on 17 occasions in the Rank Pay Case is known to you.  Inspite of a clear judgement, MoD has not implemented it in letter and spirit, denying thousands of defence personnel both serving and retired and family pensioners their legitimate dues. Just to amplify the injustice, I quote my example, I was Lt Col on 01-01-86 and became Col on 05-02-87, Brig in May 1993 and Maj Gen in Aug 2000.  The total arrears and the interest paid to me by CDA is Rs 2742/- How ridiculous it is to get this amount? Mr. Defence Minister I was denied Rs 800/- per month, Rs 1000 per month and Rs 1200 per month with effect from the dates of my promotion mentioned above. As per the SC judgement, the pay scales for the 4th CPC were to be reworked out and carried forward to 5^th and 6^th CPC. Multiplication by 2 and 2.4 were to be applied to the newly worked out scales of 4^th CPC for the 5^{th and} 6^th CPCs respectively.   The  judgement  was to be applicable to all serving and retired defence personnel and family pensioners but the MoD has again manipulated the wording in the  implementation letter by changing the  wording of the judgement “With effect from 01-01-86”  to “ As on 01-01-86”.,  thus denying the legitimate dues to thousands of defence personnel  and family pensioners.  Why such a lackadaisical and apathetic attitude of MoD towards its soldiers?

(e)  You are aware that widows pensions specially of jawans widows which count for approx 85 percent, has not been increased.  The minimum family pension has not been increased for the past over ten years.  With only Rs 3500 per month how do you expect the widow to manage her needs?  Why family pension is reduced to 60% of the ESM pension is again not understood?  If the wife die’s earlier, the ESM continues to get full pension but when the ESM passes away first, the spouse is left with 60% of pension.  There should be no reduction and NOK should continue to get full pension of the ESM.  During our meeting with you in your office, you had assured us about enhancement of widows’ pensions.  The same has not been enhanced so far.

(f) It defies all logic as to why Non Functional Upgrade (NFU) and 3^rd Career Progression have not been granted to defence personnel, while the same have been authorised to all other Central Govt employees?  The issues of serving personnel which had been reviewed by the committee of secretaries headed by the Cabinet Secy by the PM without any  representation from the Defence Forces, have not been decided as yet.  You are aware that the grant of legitimate demands in respect of serving personnel has direct bearing on the pensions of the veterans, since pensions are 50 percent of the pay.  Why these genuine demands are ignored with impunity is causing lot of heart burns to the defence personnel.

(g)  Healthcare of veterans is one of the important aspects of post retirement needs.  The ECHS though a step in the right direction needs to be upgraded in quality and content.  The scheme which was meant to provide Super Specialty medical care closer home to the veterans has been facing  numerous  problems as under :-

(i)    There is an acute shortage of funds.  While the budget for CGHS last year was planned at Rs 10500/- per beneficiary, the ECHS funds have been allotted at the rates of Rs 3050/- per beneficiary.   Why this large gap, when the provision of medical care across the country in the interiors would cost more than the urban areas where majority of CGHS beneficiaries reside?  Why this inadequate allotment to ECHS is not understood?  There are over 42 lacs 50 thousand beneficiaries of ECHS and accordingly even at the rate of Rs 10500, the amount works out to Rs 4500 crores.  The ECHS budget allotment last year was merely 1600 crores.

(ii)  Consequently, the bills of the empaneled hospitals are not paid for long time, forcing these hospitals to withdraw from the scheme.  This has caused serious shortcomings and difficulties in provisioning of Medical Care to the veterans.  Over 80 percent of the good Super Specialty Hospitals have withdrawn from the scheme.  Probably, you may not be aware that city like Mumbai does not have any ECHS empaneled hospital.  Is it a surprise to you Mr. Defence Minister or you are aware of it and has done nothing about it?   The Secy DESW has done nothing to ensure Super Specialty hospitals are empaneled across the country to assist the MD ECHS to manage the scheme effectively.  We had forwarded a list of suggestions but due to lackadaisical   attitude of the MoD, our suggestions have been totally ignored. 

(iii)   Out sourcing of Pharmacy to provide the required medicines has not been sanctioned inspite of assurances from you.  Over sixty important medicines are not available in ECHS across the country.  Why the Finance Ministry has not been able to accept your recommendations are again not understood?

4.   Mr. Defence Minister, we expect you to kindly give due considerations to our genuine demands and grant these at the earliest to undo the injustice.  We again review our request for a meeting with you of our delegations at the earliest please.

With Regards,                     

Jai Hind        

Yours Sincerely, 
                                           

Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM                                                                                                                                   

Vice Chairman Indian Ex Servicemen Movement
Mobile: 9312404269, 0124-411057                                                                                                                    

Email:satbirsm@yahoo.com, satbirsm@gmail.com

Copy to:-

General Bikram Singh, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC Chief of the Army Staff.
Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM, ADC Chief of the Naval Staff
Air Chief Marshal Norman Anil Kumar Browne, PVSM, AVSM, VM. Chairman Chiefs of Staff

Government representatives mislead the Parliament

A note by Maj Gen Satbir Singh, Vice Chairman, IESM, explains, how the Parliament is being misled by various ministerial representatives. There seems to be no sympathy and intentions in the ruling party to ameliorate the sufferings of defence personnel, which instead has closed its eyes and has become immune towards the just demands of the veterans. It is instead heaping injustices after injustices upon the defence personnel especially veterans.

Dear Friends, 

1   The report submitted by the Govt in response to the questions asked in the Parliament is clearly a clerical bureaucratic answers. 39 serious anomalies had been identified by the Service HQs. The MoD needs to answer if any of the anomalies has been resolved?

2     Approx over 3000 cases have been decided in favour of def pers by the AFTs. The MoD has to answer as to how many judgements have been implemented in letter and spirit. The answer is not hard to find. A minuscule of the judgements have been implemented. In most of the cases as a policy MoD has been appealing in the SC. All important cases ie OROP, RANK PAY CASE, DISABILITY PENSION AWARDS, 6TH CPC MANIPULATION OF FIXATION OF PENSIONS, PRE 2006 RETIREE MAJ GENS CASE BASED ON THE JUDGEMENT IN THE CASE OF PRE-96 RETIREE MAJ GENS WHICH HAD ALREADY BEEN WON BY MAJ GENS------ I can go on and on .The DESW instead of resolving the grievances, has been adding to the grievances. Two months ago, IESM team after due invite, had met Mr Harbans Singh OSD in DESW and a list of serious anomalies had been sent to them which had been discussed during the meeting. NO REPEAT NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN TO ADDRESS THE ANOMALIES.

3    Intentionally or otherwise all the tables issued with the 17 Jan 2013 letters of enhancement of pensions are wrong. The same has been pointed out to the MoD. These have not been corrected.  As per these tables a Maj with 21 yrs of service has been shown to get more pension than Maj Gen with the same service. Something basically wrong or is it intentionally being done as a policy to keep on heaping injustices on the soldiers.

4    While NFU AND 3RD CARRIER PROGRESSION HAVE BEEN AUTHORISED TO THE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, DEFENCE SERVICES HAVE BEEN DENIED THE SAME. This has been represented to the Govt, but the same has still not been granted.

5   Is this not a serious grievance that the CPCs had no representation from the def forces inspite or strong pleas from the three Chiefs. Even the committee of Secretaries headed by the Cabinet Secy twice, in 2009 and in 2012 had no representation from the def forces. Is it fair? People who do not know about def forces are deciding on them. Is it not injustice?

6    As per the normal rules of governance, one Dept which has stake in another Dept, cannot adjudicate on each other. Keeping this in mind, HOW CAN GP OF IAS SECRETARIES WHICH HAS INTER SE EQUATION WITH THE DEF FORCES BE ASKED TO DECIDE ON MATTERS MILITARY PERSONNEL? Is this not a serious grievance? Inspite of numerous representations, no action has been taken.

7    While the budget allotment for CGHS has been made at the rate Rs 10500 per beneficiary the ECHS has been allotted at the rate Rs 3050 per beneficiary. Inspite of this glaring injustice having been brought to the notice of the RM , nothing has been done, resulting in most of the empanelled  Super Speciality Hospitals withdrawing from ECHS.

8    CSD has been allotted merely 30 Percent of the required Funds, denying the def forces the availability of adequate CSD items. This is due to the faulty system of ACCOUNTING. The money deposited by the defence personnel in CSD CANTEENS instead of being deposited  in CSD A/C, is being deposited in Central Fund. This System was unwisely introduced in 1977. Inspite of numerous representations, it has not been corrected.

9  In view of the above and many more instances of injustices, HOW CAN THE RM/RRM MAKE SUCH WRONG STATEMENTS IN PARLIAMENT THAT THE GRIEVANCES OF DEF FORCES ARE BEING ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED. IT IS TOTALLY MISLEADING THE PARLIAMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF INDIA.

10  WE MUST RAISE STRONG VOICE AGAINST IT.

Regards. 

Maj Gen Satbir Singh,

Vice Chairman, IESM

satbirsm@gmail.com

Update on IV CPC Rank Pay Case: Serving of Legal Notice

As a prelude to ‘Contempt action’ proceedings, RDOA has served legal notice through its advocates to the Defence Secretary, Secretary Def Finance, Secretary Expenditure (MoF) and CGDA 

to comply with the Hon’ble Supreme Court judgment dated 04 Sept 12 in letter and spirit by 31 May 13, failing which they all will be susceptible / liable to contempt of HSC court order. 

Since PCDA (O) Pune and PCDA (P) Pensions Allahabad, come under CGDA, no separate notice has been given to them.

http://rdoaindia.blogspot.in/2013/05/update-iv-cpc-rank-pay-case-serving-of.html

Pensioners rejoice-Delhi HC says those retired before 2006 will get pension according to Sixth Pay Commission

The Delhi High Court has held that all government employees who retired even before 2006 will get revised pension according to the Sixth Central Pay Commission.

Rejecting the government's plea that the pre-2006 employees would get the increased pension only from 2012, the court directed the authorities to give retired employees the increased pension from 2006 itself.

The sixth pay commission, which had raised the salaries of government employees by a significant amount, was implemented in 2006.

The landmark judgment would almost double the pension amount of the government employees, including both Central government and state government employees.

A bench of Justices Pradeep Nandrajog and V. Kameswar Rao gave strict directions to the government to give the arrear to the pensioners within two months. The court said if the government fails to do so, it will have to pay the pending amount to the retired employees at a whopping interest of 9 per cent.

The bench said, "Mandamus is issued to the respondents to refix the pension of the petitioners accordingly within a period of two months. In case, the arrears are not paid within a period of two months, it will also carry interest at 9 per cent with effect from 01.03.2013."

The court was hearing an appeal filed by the Central government challenging the Central Administrative Tribunal's (CAT) 2009 order which had said that government employees who retired before 2006 were also entitled to the benefits of the sixth pay commission.

The CAT had passed the order on a petition filed by the Central Government Pensioners Association. While ruling in favour of the employees, the high court bench pointed out that even the government has admitted that employees who retired prior to 2006 deserved revised pension as per the sixth pay commission.

The bench said, "The government of India has tacitly admitted that it was in the wrong and that the tribunal is correct. We conclude by noting that as regards the substance of the view taken by the Tribunal, even the Central Government accepts its correctness, but insists to make the same applicable prospectively."

The government proposed that those employees who retired before 2006 be given revised pension from 2012 but not 2006 as pleaded by the Central Government Pensioners Association. The court, however, ruled in favour of the employees.

http://tinyurl.com/DelhiHC-re-Pension