Pay Commission Anomalies

Fourth Pay Commission Anomalies
The 4th CPC introduced from 1.1.1986 Integrated Pay scale with ceiling of Rs.5100 for 24 years of service to give benefit to those officers who get over looked in promotions but should keep on getting their increments at least till they finally retire. But the authorities while implementing the rules introduced bunching – God knows why – and denied the benefit to individuals and they could not get the benefit of increments in pay as sanctioned by the 4th CPC. Probably it was done to bring parity with civil services wherever the pay of Defence officers went above the scale of civilian in corresponding comparison. There was no question of bringing any parity with civil as in civil the promotions were much better and quicker and Integrated Pay Scale was introduced to compensate for that. But this small benefit given by the 4th CPC was even denied. In bunching, the juniors drawing less were brought equal to their five year seniors and the integrated scale which was meant to give benefit to seniors who were overlooked was denied to them. The second disadvantage was the deduction of Rank Pay, especially given to Armed Forces by the 4th CPC as additional pay on account of peculiar service conditions, over and above the substantive pay. But this rank pay, instead of adding, was deducted from the substantive pay without any rhyme or reason. The rank pay was shown in the pay slip as a separate element in addition to the substantive pay, from which rank pay had already been deducted, to show that the Rank pay is being paid separately as desired by the CPC. Actually it was first deducted and then added to nullify its effect. As such the rank pay was never paid as sanctioned by the 4th CPC from 1.1.1986. It may be added here that notional pay when fixed for civil as well as Armed Forces in the same scale of pay for same number of years, works out the same for both. But in the table issued by the authorities, separately for civil as well as Armed Forces, the two differ by the amount by which the rank pay has been deducted for the Armed Forces. This comes to light only when the two tables, civil as well as Armed Forces are viewed together. They thought that no one will be able to see the two tables together and detect the trick. It is definitely a calculated attempt to deny the Armed Forces of their due. It is surprising as to how they could hoodwink the CDA- the hawk eyed auditors of the Defence Forces. They have admitted and paid the difference accrued to one of the officers who took the case to High Court of Kerala but are not allowing in other cases and want them to approach through the Court which many retired officers have done and in the process money is being fleeced from them in the name of fighting their cases in the Court. Actually there is no necessity to go to the Court as there are number of precedents where Govt. had paid to others is similar cases once it is established that some mistake has taken up and needs to be rectified. It effects all serving officers as well but they under the clause of discipline cannot approach the Courts., but injustice is being done to them as well. Your taking up this case will help the Defence Forces to get their due. Thus, both the benefits given by the 4th CPC have been denied to the Armed Forces.

Fifth Pay Commisssion Anamolies
The matter was raised in the Lok Sabha through a Starred Question by Maj Gen(Retd) B.C.Khanduri, AVSM, the then MP from Dehradun and present Chief Minister of Uttarakhand but in reply the Govt. still maintained that there were no anomalies. The matter was then referred to the President of India, the Supreme commander of the Armed Forces, as a complete memorandum, who forwarded to the Secretary MOD for further necessary action where probably it was swept under the carpet as no reply was forthcoming in spite of reminders. During one of the visits to Dehradun, a copy of the memorandum presented to the President of India earlier, was submitted to the Chief of Army staff General J.J.Singh PVSM,AVSM, VSM,ADC. who was surprised to see the points raised and promised to discuss with AG on his return to New Delhi. He did discuss and out of ten points raised three were agreed to for further necessary action with the MOD., as per AG ‘s reply received in reply. Surprisingly, the reply for the rest of the points was that those were not recommended by the 5th CPC, in spite of the fact that we had quoted relevant Paras of commissions report where it was written that these recommendations are for the civil and be made applicable mutatis mutandis to similar cases in Defence Forces. If one refuses to read even the Paras quoted of CPC, God knows how to make them read, what to say of taking any action. When you force a horse to drink water it revolts and kicks back and we avoided that situation. Nothing is known about the action taken on three points agreed to for no orders on the subject have been received. May be they have referred those again to 6th CPC instead of taking action at their own.

The above and some other minor anomalies have appeared because Defence Services are not represented and are directly not in touch with the Pay Commission. The three Defence chiefs have made their presentation before the Hon’ble Defence Minister and the Ministry of Defence will make the presentation before the Pay Commission, which in fact brings all anomalies because what we wish to say is at times different than what is actually projected by the Ministry. Same is the story with the implementation where they implement as per their thinking and not as desired by the Pay Commission as is very evident from the 4th and 5th CPC anomalies. If we are not allowed to present our case to the CPC then there should be a separate Pay Commission for the Defence Forces where one to one problems can be put across and understood and settled. It needs immediate attention of the Government, especially the Cabinet Committee.

KG Behl
Brig (Retd)
President Dehra Dun Ex-Servicemen League