SCPC: Tribune of Shame

Dear Mr. Editor,

Your write up UNCALLED FOR DEFIANCE- ADMIRAL MEHTA’S CONDUCT INEXCUSABLE on the Centre Page of Tribune Dated 30 Sep 2008 is misconstrued and not based on deep analysis of the whole issue.

It is very rare that Defence Services Chiefs make requests to the Government so repeatedly on any issue as in the case of constituting and recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission. This is due to the deliberate downgrading of the Defence Services over a period of last 30-40 years, time and again, when ever a Pay Commission was constituted.

The Pay Commission is headed by a Judge or some such civilian. The Secretariat is manned by the bureaucrats. They are the ones who work out details and put up draft recommendations. The Defence Services have most respectfully requested the Government time and again, to hold a separate Pay Commission for them, failing which their representative be at least included in the Pay Commission. Defence Services have the largest number of officers and non officer cadre in the Country. Can you Sir think of any logical reasoning for not acceptance of this request? If this simple request had been accepted which was made well before the 6th Pay Commission was constituted, the present fiasco would not have taken place.

As regards non acceptance of the award of the Pay Commission by the Defence Services, this was done based on similar past experience with the 4th and 5th Pay Commissions. Once the award is accepted, even conditionally, the bureaucracy and the politicians are quite content. However, years pass and the objections raised by the Defence services keep being processed on files, till even a new Pay Commission is instituted. A year or so before the New Pay Commission, notings are made by senior bureaucrats that the pending points will be examined by the new pay commission!! A large number of such issues from the 5th Pay Commission are still pending. Hence this time, the three Chiefs rightly took a decision not to implement the award of the Pay Commission. You will now agree that keeping in view how the bureaucracy and the Ministers function, this was the only course left for the three Chiefs.

Sir, are you aware that the Committee of Secretaries headed by no less than the Cabinet Secretary appointed to examine the objections raised by the three Services in fact committed a fraud on the nation and the three Defence Services!! Apparently they raised pay bands of certain ranks in the Defence Services but side by side brought into higher pay bands many civilian and police appointments junior to Service officers, thus in fact down grading the status of Lt Cols and equivalents. They also brought down the status of Lt Gens below that of DGPs of Police. Our Ministers are so naïve that they did not bother to consult the Defence Services before accepting the new recommendations and issuing implementation letter. What are the Defence Services Chiefs expected to do under such circumstances!!

Sir, the Defence Services personnel fight and give their lives based on loyalty. Loyalty to the nation, loyalty to the Service, loyalty to the Paltan/Ship/Squadron, loyalty to the officers. However, this loyalty is two way; upwards and downwards. The superiors have also to be loyal to the troops/sailors/airmen they command. They are responsible for their welfare and safety. We do not want rebellion amongst our Services on matters like pay and status. Therefore the Chiefs are duty and honor bound to stand up to the blatant discrimination and fraud committed by the bureaucracy, and incompetence of our Ministers to see through this game, in case they have to maintain morale and fighting spirit of the Forces. As you are fully aware, the Defence services personnel cannot form trade unions or agitate collectively. Hence it is the Chiefs who have to take up cudgel on their behalf, with all the will and determination.

Sir, what has been done by the bureaucracy is a very serious matter for the nation to ponder. They have done what our adversaries like Pakistan and China would have on their wish list; To LOWER THE MORALE OF THE INDIAN DEFENCE FORCES. And now the actual culprits are rubbing salt on injury and further undermining the authority of the Service Chiefs by singling out Admiral Suresh Mehta for sending out a signal to all ranks regarding the implementation of the Pay Commission. It needs to be mentioned that this is how in the Defence Services Senior Generals/Admirals/Air Marshals deal with critical issues concerning with morale. The signal by the Naval Chief is very aptly worded and was intended to reassure all ranks and as a prevent measure against any unrest, that all possible steps were being taken with the Government. We hope you and the nation remember the Naval Mutiny of 1942. Lack of communication with lower ranks was one main reason for this unsavory happening.

The Prime Minister should set up a commission immediately to investigate, how the bureaucracy misguided the Ministers and injected new disparities in the in-terse seniority of Lt Cols and Lt Gens, which has resulted in feeling of so much despondency amongst Defence Services. Also why the pensions for PBOR have been curtailed before lateral entry in other Government Departments is ensured.

Sir, I am afraid in stead of lauding the patience, the statesmanship shown by the Defence Service Chiefs in face of such blatant downgrading of Service officers and complete disdain and neglect by the Ministers, except the Defence Minister, you have drawn wrong conclusions. You have lowered the standing of the Naval Chief, who also happens to be the Head of Joint Services Staff by writing the piece they way you have.

We hope that with the above clarifications, you will be true to your profession and write another column, giving the correct picture.

Lt Gen Harbhajan Singh (Retd)
Param Vashishst Seva Medal

Uncalled for defiance: Admiral Mehta’s conduct inexcusable