11 Jan 2011
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KOCHI: He served the Indian Navy for 14 years, six months and nine days and played a role in the Indo-Pak war, Goan Mission and Sino-Indian war. Now, T V John, of Kadavanthra has been waiting in vain for years to get pension from the Navy.
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The contention of the Navy for denying him the pension is that he couldn't complete 15 years in service, the minimum service required for granting pension. According to John, he was relieved from service in May, 1968, and sent to Mazagon Dock, Mumbai, for undergoing a training programme in the UK in jamming bombs of the rival ships. After returning, he offered his expertise to the Navy during the Goan Mission, Indo-Pak war and the Sino-Indian war. Now, he gets pension neither from the Navy nor from the Mazagon Dock. As the Navy denied him pension, he moved the Mumbai High Court, which ordered the former to condone the deficiency in service and give pension. But, the Navy moved the apex court against the verdict of the Mumbai High Court.
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The authorities with the Navy are delaying the case without appearing for the hearing properly, says John.
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According to the Navy, John was discharged from service on compassionate grounds. John challenges this argument. Compassionate retirement is availed of when a service official's presence is required at his home because of reasons like ailment of his parents and so, says John . "But, it was for the Navy that I went to the Mazagon Dock and underwent the training in the UK. Later, the Navy used my expertise," says John.
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The Navy has condoned the deficient services of many personnel with less service than John. Ravindranath, of Elamkulam, who has less than 10 years of service was given pension considering his application for condoning deficient service. But, the same Navy uses double standard in his case, says John.
Is it a case of Service Hqs bureaucracy?
ReplyDeleteMy experience - bureaucratic minds exercise power by denying or delaying.
Real power comes from granting, being compassionate and just/fair. Hallmark of a liberal and progressive mind.
Rgds
B Bates
Please do not form an opinion by listening to one side of the story only.
ReplyDeleteThe media seem to have a secret briefing on 'fauji bashing'. This story seems to be another such attempt.
I had brought out a couple of years ago that the babus were hell bent on trying to subjugate the Services after having conquered all professionals like doctors, engineers, educators, bankers et al. Can you imagine a youngster with 4 yrs of svc, appointed as district collector, writing ACR on the Distt Health Officer twice his age and over 20 yrs of professional experience? The same youngster will not speak to anyone less than a Brigadier today. Why do we accept such things, I mean Service Hqs. I had warned everyone to unite and take steps to 'turn the tide'. We are the last barrier between the babus and their desire for unfettered powers -- scams galore under absolute power and zero accountability. It is under this scheme of things that the three Chiefs are being humiliated today.
Coming back to this case. Navy says he was discharged on compassionate grounds. Surely, he must have applied for such a discharge and it must be on record. It is possible that the Navy used its good offces with Mazgaon Docks to give him a shore job. How could he 'offer his expertise' to the Navy on an individual basis when he was a Mazdock employee, a sailor. Sounds ridiculous.
My personal take is that the gentleman has heard of people getting pension after having their service shortage waived off. He thought he'll also give it a try.
Regards
K K Punchhi
Krishan Sir,
ReplyDeleteYou have made many valid points. I fully agree.
My comment was about:
Bureaucratic minds be it in the military or civilian service. They are no different and can do equal damage.
What do you say to cases where Hqs are the stumbling blocs concerning widow's pension, disability grants, etc.
Even AFT judgements are not being acted / followed up. Why not disband AFT if even the military brass does not trust it.
Not getting support from MoD is bad but when your own don't support you, it's more disheartening.
When the Mumbai High Court tells the Hqs to condone the deficiency in service, there is little point in holding on to the ego of a particular Naval Staff. Be gracious and grant the poor sailor his pension. Navy or Mod will not become a pauper.
I suppose my sympathies are with the lowly / under dogs and not the mighty and powerful in Establishments.
Regarding the Service Chiefs, my view is that they should take stands/fight for real issues which affect the Fighting efficiencies of Forces and welfare of Soldiers and not funds/profits of Canteens. Whether to go to PAC themselves or send their reps is their call. Am sure they can handle that and don't need any advice from Veterans.
Lastly, bureaucracy from Bureaucrats is expected but certainly not from Military Officers.
Kind regards and respect,
B Bates
balraj.bates@gmail.com
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ReplyDeleteI fully agree with Cmde Punchhi’s observation on, “fauji bashing” and “It is under this scheme of things that the three Chiefs are being humiliated today.” Also, “scams galore under absolute power and zero accountability.”
I repeat my earlier point, “The biggest enemy of our armed forces is not Pakistan or China, it is the babus in the IAS”.
In this particular case, Naval HQ should have relented, condoned the shortfall in service and given the poor sailor his pension. “when your own don't support you, it's more disheartening” is also true.
Sad, very sad.
Vaidun Vidyadhar
vvidya@optusnet.com.au
Why don't we pay them back in the same coin and put them on the defensive.
ReplyDeleteWe should dig up the dirt and expose the nefarious doings of the netas and babus.
Surely, they have many many a Sukna and Adarsh in their cupboards.
Just because we belong to the Defence Services, it does not mean that we should always be on the receiving end and on the defensive.
These babus have this holier than thou attitude and call themselves the government. Why can't all starred Service officers too be part of the government?
I remember COAS Gen Roderigues making a statement to the effect that good governance concerned the army also. All the MPs were baying for his blood on the parliament floor the next day. "Generals are only to be seen, not heard" was a common refrain. The next day there was an article in a local Delhi daily. Rear Admiral Satyendra Singh Retd warned the MPs not to provoke the army into acting the way China's PLA did when many heads literally rolled. There was a pin drop silence after that. The paper tigers just shut up.
Generals may not bite but they should growl at least.
As for the welfare of poor sailors and eq, our source is just the media and you can be sure they give out slanted news. We should react and then act but only after getting hold of full facts.
Regards
Cdr K K Punchhi