SC wants separate pay panel for forces

सैनिकों की शिकायतें सुनने के लिए आयोग बने : सुप्रीमकोर्ट
ठ्ठजागरण ब्यूरो, नई दिल्ली देश की सुरक्षा में जान न्योछावर करने वाले सैनिकों में वेतन विसंगतियों और अन्य मुद्दों पर बढ़ती शिकायतों के प्रति गंभीरता दिखाते हुए सुप्रीमकोर्ट ने केंद्र सरकार को सैनिकों के लिए स्वतंत्र आयोग गठित करने का सुझाव दिया है। न्यायमूर्ति मार्कंडेय काटजू और न्यायमूर्ति टीएस ठाकुर की पीठ ने शिकायतों का निवारण नहीं होने से असंतुष्ट सैनिकों द्वारा आये दिन पदक लौटाये जाने की घटनाओं का जिक्र करते हुए अदालत में मौजूद एटार्नी जनरल जीई वाहनवती व सॉलिसिटर जनरल गोपाल सुब्रमण्यम से इस सबंध में सरकार से निर्देश लेकर बताने को कहा है। पीठ ने सुझाव दिया कि सरकार सशस्त्र बल के वर्तमान और सेवानिवृत कर्मचारियों की शिकायतें निपटाने के लिए सुप्रीमकोर्ट के सेवानिवृत न्यायाधीश की अध्यक्षता में एक स्वतंत्र आयोग गठित करे। यह आयोग सैनिकों की हर शिकायत को सुनकर निपटाएगा। पीठ ने कहा कि सैनिकों की बहुत सी शिकायतें होती हैं और उन्हें लगता है कि केंद्र सरकार उनकी बात ठीक से नहीं सुन रही। कई सैनिकों ने तो अपने मेडल वापस कर दिये हैं। ऐसे में उन्हें लगता है कि सैनिकों की शिकायतें सुनने के लिए एक अलग स्वतंत्र आयोग होना चाहिए। पीठ ने ये सुझाव सशस्त्र बल के कर्मचारी अरुण कुमार की याचिका पर सुनवाई के दौरान दिये और केंद्र सरकार को नोटिस भी जारी किया। मामले में सरकार की पैरवी कर रहे एटार्नी जनरल व सालिसीटर जनरल ने सरकार से निर्देश लेने के लिए कुछ समय दिये जाने का अनुरोध किया। इस पर कोर्ट ने मामले की सुनवाई 18 अक्तूबर तक के लिए स्थगित कर दी

SC wants separate pay panel for forces
R Sedhuraman
Legal Correspondent
Tribune News Service New Delhi, September 8
Pointing out that many of the armed forces personnel have returned their medals due to non-redressal of their grievances, the Supreme Court today asked the government to consider setting up a separate Pay Commission for both serving and retired members.“We feel this is necessary as the Armed Forces personnel have many grievances which they feel are not being properly addressed by the Union Government. Many have even returned their medals,” a Bench comprising Justices Markandey Katju and TS Thakur said in an order.The Bench asked Attorney General GE Vahanvati and Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium to forward the suggestion to the government and get its response by October 18, the next date of hearing.The court passed the order while hearing a petition filed by some serving and retired army officers challenging the government’s refusal to accord them enhanced “rank pay” as recommended by the Fifth Pay Commission.The AG and the SG “were present on behalf of the Central government. We have made certain suggestions to them regarding setting up of an independent commission headed by a retired Supreme Court judge for looking into all the grievances of the serving and former members of the Armed Forces,” the Bench noted in the order, marking a copy each to the AG and the SG.Earlier during the arguments, the Bench slammed the Centre for making army personnel run from pillar to post for getting their salary disputes resolved. “The day the soldiers are forced to fight for their salaries, it would be a sad day for the country,” it remarked.Noting that the Army people who were a disciplined lot could not go on agitation like others, the Bench said forcing them to fight for their salaries was not good for the country. Citing a senior officer who burnt his artificial limb in frustration, the Bench asked the AG and the SG: “Why do you allow such things?”The present Pay Commission headed by bureaucrats was perhaps unable to understand the problems of the personnel, the apex court observed and felt that setting up a separate commission would provide a channel for them to vent out their feelings.The Bench slammed the Centre for making army personnel run from pillar to post for getting their salary disputes resolved. “The day the soldiers are forced to fight for their salaries, it would be a sad day for the country,” it remarked.

CANDLELIGHT VIGIL AT ABDUL HAMID MEMORIAL
Tribune News Service
Asal Uttar (Tarn Taran), September 8
Members of the Joint Panel of Citizens and Soldiers today held a candlelight vigil at Param Vir Chakra Company Quarter Master Havildar Abdul Hamid War Memorial in this remote border village to spread awareness towards the grievances of soldiers and on national issues.Holding candles, they took out a march and raised patriotic slogans.They assembled at the tomb of Abdul Hamid, who died here while fighting valiantly against the enemies in 1965.Dr M S Randhawa and Capt. C S Sidhu( Who Burned his ArtificalLimbs), co-conveners of the joint panel, said the venue was decided to focus on the threat to the nation from China and Pakistan.They said this had happened without any provocation from India. Besides, they said, the country was facing threat from terrorists with global network.They laid stressed on the grievances of soldiers which include, “one rank-one pension, separate pay commission for armed forces, job security to soldiers up to 60 years of age and rehabilitation of Army widows”.They added that the government must focus its attention to redress the grievances of the soldiers at the earliest.Among others, organisations of ex-servicemen, including, the Majha Ex-servicemen Front, the Indian Ex-servicemen League, the Sanjha Morcha, the State Ex-servicemen Welfare Association, and citizens of the area participated in the protest really.The vigil was aimed at giving a wake-up call to the nation on the 45th anniversary of the Indo-Pak war, they added.
Capt CS Sidhu, (who burned his artificial limbs) co-conveners
With Warm Regards
Gen Secy
Ex.SERVICEMEN JOINT ACTION FRONT (Sanjha Morcha)