by Navde ep Singh
Though the implementation of the 6th Central Pay Commission recommendations
in its final form, even after undergoing surgical changes through various
committees and groups, resulted in degradation of status of military ranks in
the official pecking order, what is more glaring is the fact that some
organizations are not even willing to follow the Grade Pay parity postulated by
the concept of Grade Pay after the 6th CPC and are flouting all laid down
parameters, equivalencies and parities to impunity. In fact, military officers
are being placed below even State Government officers with similar Grade Pay in
certain organizations.
The scheme of things in these three set-ups requires the immediate
attention of the Services Headquarters without fail:
A. Ministry of
External Affairs : As fully discussed in an earlier blogpost,
military officers with Grade Pay of Rs 8900 are being clubbed with other
Central and State Government officers with Rs 8700 Grade Pay and military
officers with Grade Pay Rs 8700 are being clubbed with other officers with
Grade Pay of Rs 7600 in our missions abroad. This not only has a direct fall
out on military status but also on allowances admissible on foreign shores.
There was even a situation where a civilian junior serving under a military
officer in a mixed organization in India became the latter’s senior when both
of them went on deputation to the same organization under the Ministry of
External Affairs.
B. Cabinet
Secretariat : Even in
certain appointments of the Cabinet Secretariat, a skewed equation for
deputation and absorption is being followed wherein the actual status and even
Grade Pay have been given a complete go-bye. A Commandant of the Coast Guard
serving under a Captain of the Indian Navy thus becomes the latter’s superior
if both of them opt for deputation to the Cabinet Secretariat on certain
appointments at the same time.
C. Pubic
Enterprises : For
appointments at the level of Grade Pay Rs 8700, officers of the rank of
Brigadier (Rs 8900) are being sought by the Public Enterprises Selection Board.
Officers of the rank of Colonel (Grade Pay Rs 8700) are being appointed on
appointments carrying the Grade Pay of Rs 7600. An immediate case needs to be
taken up by the Services for this long standing anomaly. A recent advertisement
reflecting the above can be accessed here.
D. Survey of
India : In recent
selections for secondment, throwing all statutory rules providing for
protection of seniority to the winds, officers of the rank of Major have been
absorbed on posts carrying the Grade Pay of Rs 5400, that is equivalent to a
Lieutenant of the Army. This despite the fact, that the protection of
seniority, status and Grade Pay was promised to military officers before the
selections were made.
All such issues need to be taken up on case to case basis
otherwise we should brace ourselves for a further slide after the 7th CPC.
Dear Mr Singh,
ReplyDeleteWhile admitting the fact that the defence services officers should be treated with dignity with regard to their pay and status, it is also a fact that such things keep happening in all areas of government service. Rules, regulations, orders, policies, etc are routinely ignored or not followed by those who are supposed to upkeep the sanctity of such higher level instructions. This could be either due to ignorance, inability to interpret or even gross insubordination. Such things keep happening because they know that nothing whatsoever happens if they violate the rules. The rule breakers never get caught or punished ! In such a system of governance, it is no surprise that the whole system fails after some time. History shows that it happens !