CAN ANY OF THE VETERANS TAKE INITIATIVE TO PURSUE THE MATTER IF THE DEMANDS ARE

CONSIDERED GENUINE?
DIPARITIES AND ANOMALIES IN THE NOTIFIED 6th CPC REPORT PERTAINING TO DEFENSE
FORCES PERSONNEL.
1. It may be noted that the defense services persons, while putting across
their grievances while quoting pay parities, they never mean any thing against the
IAS officers, Para Military Services officers or any one else. Rather, they are
happy to note that all these officers have been given their legitimate due for
which they are fully satisfied.
2. It is needless to emphasize that the financial benefits to the defense
persons definitely have to be kept in mind. This is emphatically important
considering their service conditions and low retirement age. However, may they be
officers or PBOR, their prestige, dignity and honor is rather that of more
importance, which must not be compromised, destroyed, degraded and tarnished as
has been done in the notified 6th Pay Commission Report. This statement is evident
from the fact that the seniority and status of all the Govt. employees will be
determined by the Grade Pay of all the officials in accordance with the 6th pay
commission report.
3. Nevertheless, the three Chiefs of Defense Services have pointed out the
Pay Parities with vivid disparities in the Gde. Pay of some of the defense
officers of the rank of Lt. Cols., Lt. Gens. and equivalent ranks of all three
services, especially in comparison to IAS Officers and Para Military Officers. It
has been categorically pointed out by the three Chiefs of Defense Services, the
proposed pay parities will have adverse effects during the joint operations.
4. With due apology, this is to point out that in addition to the above
disparities, there are still number of more grave disparities in the cases of
officers of the ranks of Majors, captains and Lieutenants, and equivalent ranks of
all three services as well as trainees of these services.
5. You may kindly see that the pre-revised scales of pay of civil services
officers falling in S-21, S-22, and S-23 and equivalent posts of officers of Para
Military Forces were much less then the pay scale of Majors and equivalent ranks
of all three services. Irrespective of this fact; in accordance with the 6th pa
commission report notifications, the Civilian Officers of the categories mentioned
ibid are given the Grade Pay of Rs. 7600/-, where as all officers of the rank of
Majors and equivalent ranks of all three services have been given the Grade pay of
Rs. 6600/- only. Further, the Chief Nursing Officers of Para Military Services,
the Principals of schools, Education Officers, Assistant Directors and Managers,
whose pre-revised scales were 10000-15200; all of them have now been given the
Grade Pay of Rs. 7600/-, whereas, the officers of the rank of Majors and
equivalent ranks of all three services, earlier drawing much higher pay scale than
them, have been given the Grade pay of Rs. 6600/- only.
6. The degradation of Defense Services Officers does not end here itself. If
you peruse the VI CPC report and notifications thereto. You will see that the
‘Vice Principal Grade I’ and Post Graduate Teacher Grade I of schools whose pre-
revised scale was 8000-13200 are now given the Grade Pay of Rs. 6600/-, but in the
case of the officers of the rank of Captains and equivalent ranks of all three
services, whose pre-revised pay was much higher than the officials mentioned above
are given Grade Pay of 6100/- only. Likewise, the pre-revised pay scale of the
officers of the rank of Lieutenants and equivalent ranks of all three services
was starting from Rs 8250/ which is more than the officials mentioned ibid, their
Grade Pay is given just Rs. 5400/- only.
7. It is emphatically and forcefully verbalized that all the Pay Bands and
Grade pay given to the Defense Officers should be made applicable to them after
rendering the same period of service as that is applicable to the IAS Officers and
Para Military Officers. There must not be any discrimination in this regard.
8. Further, it may be seen that when any officers or officials of Central or
State Govt. join any service in any post, they start getting their full pay and
allowances from the day they join the service. Their entire service is counted for
increments, promotions and retirement from the first very day. They are paid their
full pay and allowances and all other benefits of service during their training
period, irrespective of duration of their training. Contrary to this, the Officers
and PBOR of Defense services are paid just stipend only during the period of their
initial training. Also, this period is not counted for giving increments,
promotions and retirement. Such a big discrimination and injustice must not be
done to the defense services personnel alone.
9. The 6th Pay Commission and the Govt. has very kindly recommended and
accepted the prolonged and long standing/awaited demand of Military Service Pay
(‘MSP’) of defense personnel. But, it is highly unjustified as to why the MSP
should not be applicable w. e. f. the day, the 6th pay commission is effective.
Were the soldiers not the part of defense forces and/or they have not been
performing their duties from 1 Jan 2006 onward? If they are legitimate part of
defense forces and have been performing their duties since 1 Jan 2006 and the 6th
Pay commission is since effective from 1 Jan 2006, the MSP must be given to them
w.e.f that very date and the arrears whatever may be due, should be paid
accordingly.
10. Further, Military Service Pay is since the Pay, it is highly illogical not to
consider it to calculate dearness allowance and increments on this pay. It may be
noted that the Central Govt. has agreed to pay dearness allowance on the Transport
Allowance. It is surprising to note that when the tpt. allowance is an allowance
and not the pay, the dearness allowance is permitted on it, but the MSP is the
Pay, yet, it is not considered for the purpose. Hence, the Govt. must reconsider
its decision to pay dearness allowance on MSP as well as, it must be included to
calculate increments w.e.f. 01 Jan 2006 please.
11. One Rank One-Pension issue has been long outstanding. This matter is most
judicious and deserving since the service personnel including officers retire at a
very early age and none of them finds any avenues for discharging their entire
responsibilities and living after their retirement. They are totally dependent on
their pension only.
12. At the time of implementation of pay commission report, there occurs a big
disparity in the pension of present and previously retired ex-service persons
retired from the same rank. The pension of presently retired person is fixed based
on 50% of last 10 months average pay after rendering total period of service by
him. In the case of persons retired before the implementation of pay commission
report, their pension is re-fixed based on minimum of the new pay scale of the
rank/post from which they retired, irrespective of any amount of period of service
they had rendered before their retirement. The entire period of service they
rendered before their retirement is completely ignored. Consequently, there
becomes a wide gap of eligibility of pension between the present/future and
previously retired persons, though in both cases, they retired or will retire from
the same rank. This is absolutely in contravention to the Apex Court’s recent
decision. Considering this fact as well as Apex court judgement, the authorities
must bear in mind the rank and period of rendered service while re-fixing the
pension of all persons who retired before implementation of pay commission report.
In accordance with this analogy, the authorities must consider the pensionable pay
of a serving person after the period of service that was rendered by a retired
person for re-fixing his pension on implementation of any pay commission report.
If pension is ever re-fixed against this principle, it will be contrary to the
Apex Court judgement.
13. Previously, the defense service officers, who could not get selection grade
rank of Lt. Col and equivalents rank; they used to get this rank after rendering
21 years of service. Such officers were denied rank pay of Lt. Col and their
pension was fixed without including the rank pay of this rank. It is of utmost
importance to note that presently, all officers of defense services attain the
rank of time scale Lt. Col after rendering 13 years of service, and they are
entitled full pension, considering their basic pay and rank pay. Further, after
implementation of sixth pay commission report, they will get their full pension
after including running pay of applicable “band pay, grade pay and MSP’. The
previously retired officers since attain the rank in question after 21 years and
present ones, get this rank after 13 years, there must not be any discrimination
in the past and present officers of the rank of Lt. Col. while fixing/re-fixing
the pension in either case.
14. The present minimum service required for officers to be eligible for pension
is 20 years. The short service commissioned officers, who are asked to leave
service after 10/14 years, are not eligible for pension. The pension for such
officers should be considered, though it may not be full pension as is applicable
for the officers who retire after rendering 20 years or more service. It can be
commensurately less in comparison to minimum 20 years requirement. However, such
short commissioned officers, who voluntarily seek retirement after stipulated
period or before 20 years may not be considered for this purpose.
15. In view of the foregoing, a most sincere and earnest appeal is made to the
Prime Minister, External Affairs minister, who is the Chairman of special review
committee for the purpose, Defense Minister, Finance Minister and all other
authorities to do justice to the Defense Officers and PBOR of all three services
to look into the matter judiciously, restore their status and dignity and give
them their due as suggested below:-
(a). In the cases of Lt. Generals, Lt. Colonels and PBOR, as taken up by
the Chiefs of three Defense Services.
(b). In the case of the officers of the rank of Majors and equivalent
ranks of all three services, the Grade pay of Rs. 7600/- be given.
(c). In the case of the officers of the rank of Captains and equivalent
ranks of all three services, the Grade pay of Rs. 6600/- be given.
(d). In the case of the officers of the rank of Lieutenants and
equivalent ranks of all three services, the Grade pay of Rs. 6100/- be given.
(e). Give full pay, allowances and Grade Pay to all the Officers and
PBOR of Defense services during the period of their initial training as is being
done in the case of other Central and State Govt. Officials.
(f). The Pay Bands and Grade pay given to the Defense Officers should
be made applicable after rendering the same period of service as that is
applicable to the IAS Officers and Para Military Officers. There must not be any
discrimination in this regard.
(g). In accordance with Hon’ able Apex Court’s recent decision; the
Govt. must bear in mind to ensure to fix the pension of officers previously
retired or retiring hereafter in the same rank of Lt Col. may it be time scale or
previous selection grade or any other same rank without any discrimination.
(h). The short service commissioned officers, who are asked to leave
service after rendering 10/14 service years, be made eligible for pension, which
may be commensurately less in comparison to 20 years.
(i). Considering the fact explained at Para 12 above as well as recent
Apex Court judgement, the authorities must bear in mind the rank and period of
rendered service while re-fixing the pension of all persons who retired before
implementation of pay commission report. In accordance with this analogy, the
authorities must consider total pensionable pay of a serving person after the
period of service that was rendered by a retired person for re-fixing every
retired person’s pension on implementation of any pay commission report.
17. If suggestions above are accepted, it is assured that it will have great
impact to raise the morale of Defense Services Personnel and attract desired,
rather better talents to join Military Services, thus huge vacancies of officers,
existing since long, will be made up. This will prove to be in the best interest
of the nation and national security.
Thanks.
Yours truly,
Jassu.