SCPC: Update on the Rank Pay showdown

Friday, November 14, 2008
At the beginning of this month, the three Chiefs met with Expenditure Secretary Sushama Nath to discuss the four core demands of the armed forces. Nath later briefed Pranab Mukherjee on this meeting.

Anyway, during the meeting between Nath and the three chiefs, the definition of Rank Pay came up. She indicated that there had been a Cabinet decision in 2000 which stated that Rank Pay did not form part of Basic Pay. In response, the Chiefs told her that if such a decision had indeed been taken, then the affected party, i.e. the services, were neither consulted nor made a party to the decision. And that even if such a decision had been taken, the Services Instructions issued by the MoD were not amended, adding that amendment of Service Instructions was a mandatory requirement, since it involved restructuring of the pay of service officers.

The contents of the GoI letter of 2000 (which Nath was referring to) with regard to Rank Pay were scrutinised during the meeting. It emerged that the contents of the letter were "entirely in consonance" with what the Chiefs were saying. The 2000 letter says "Rank Pay will be taken into account for determining their entitlements to such of those financial benefits, concessions, etc, including retirement benefits as are directly related to the basic pay or their pay scales."

Will be reporting more about this meeting on my channel shortly. Timings will be posted ahead.
Posted by Shiv Aroor at 9:14 AM
6thPC: Update on the Rank Pay showdown

Comments
GoI letter 2000 or cabinet decision about rank pay never heard of. Since, it is now clarified in the meeting that rank pay forms part of basic or in other words all allowances and benefits applicable with basic pay are also applicable to rank pay. Hope, Expenditure Secretary Sushma Nath brings correct input before the GoM.

Isn't it an intentional conspiracy by a responsible Government functionary to let down Armed Forces who is supposedly to be neutral and unbiased while dealing with such an important assignment? May God give her wisdom to bring correct facts and figure before GoM.

Its questionable as why GoM is not taking inputs from horses mouth so that they can decide the matter without wasting time. All inputs needed are readily available in printed rule books published by previous Governments after each CPC. Hope wisdom prevails now and justice done to affected party which I am hopeful. Good luck to all.
Lt Col R S Dasila(Retd)

It is evident that this lady (?) has been leading everyone, especially the 6 CPC up the garden- path with her lies and subterfuges. But will she be sacked for her mischief? Not a chance.
Cdr Carl Gomes (Retd)

LiveFist Column: Preamble, Gamble, Scramble
Temporarily blinded by their "brilliance" and bereft of that invincibility in the glare of TV cameras, the bureaucracy now scrambles to save itself in the way it knows how. It spreads rumours or inspired leaks that the Chiefs had disobeyed the Govt.

How and what did the Chiefs disobey? MoD had not released orders for implementing the recommendations of the CoS and not even the recommendations of the 6th CPC. So what were the Chiefs disobeying? Have they not read that there are sections in the Armed Forces Acts that one can represent against illegal orders? Did the IAS expect the Armed Forces to believe that the CoS recommendations are those of the 6th CPC?

Are the Central Police Organizations (CPOs) really casting their lines and fishing in troubled waters? Or is that another Nathism? The Armed Forces don't say that the IAS got this, so give us the same.

The Armed Forces say loudly, clearly "DON'T OVERTURN THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE 6th CPC AND SUPPLANT IT WITH Nathism".
Air Marshal Sharad Y Savur (Retd)

Extract from: LiveFist Column: Preamble, Gamble, Scramble