Majors and Equivalents Pension

MINIMUM OF PAY BAND VERSUS MINIMUM OF PAY IN THE PAY BAND
Dear Major Sreedharan,
This refers to your mail published in REPORT MY SIGNAL 254/2011 dated 15 July 2011. Along with some other clarifications, I had asked Deptt Of ESW MoD through an application under RTI Act as to where minimum of pay band has been mentioned in the VI CPC report. I had also asked why new pay scale has been created for Lt Gen for whom the difference between minimum of pay band and minimum of the pay in the pay band is about 26% but Majors, for whom such difference is also about 26%, have been left out in the recommendations of the Committee of Secretaries headed by Cabinet Secretary. They have not replied. My appeal to Central Information Commission was submitted in October 2010 but no date of hearing has yet been intimated to me. You have stated that Majors pension as per minimum of the pay band is 14100. Actually, CPC had specified that pension to be fixed as per Annexure II (based on revised pay scale) or Annexure I (PENSION PRIOR TO 2006 MULTIPLIED BY 2.26) whichever is higher. In case of Majors, pension as per Annexure I works out to 7550x2.26=14464 which is higher than 14100. If you have been getting pension of 14100, you must contact your bank to increase your pension immediately to 14464 and pay you arrears with interest @bank rate+2%. Interest will be applicable from 01 October 2008. Regards
AVM RP Mishra

Dear Brigadier,
I am sending a letter for your information. If you think it will be useful to Colonels and above, please circulate it in your RMS blog and kindly give publicity.
With regards
Major KP.Sreedharan (Retd)

Dear All,
I am a retired Major. I filed a petition along with others at the AFT Delhi for enhancement of pension and got a favourable verdict on 14 Sep 2010. So far the orders have not been implemented by the Govt. We the petitioners i.e. the affected retired Majors and their equivalents are initiating measures to ensure its implementation. In the verdict a very useful letter issued by the Government has been quoted by the AFT to differentiate between the phrases “Of the Pay Band” and “In the Pay Band“. I am mentioning this here, to draw the attention of all the retired Colonels, Brigadiers and Major Generals. I request you all to carefully go through the entire contents of the letter which is mentioned in the verdict as well as the table for calculation of the pension of retired majors given below and recalculate your pension accordingly. Presently your pension is being calculated on minimum OF the pay band and not minimum IN the pay band. The losses that accrue due to this anomaly is between Rs 2000/ to Rs 5000/ excluding DA as applicable every month Pre -2006 Majors Pension for 33 years of service was fixed as follows:
Minimum basic pay OF the pay band as taken by PCDA (P) for Major is Rs 15600/ Actual minimum basic pay IN the pay band for Major at 6 yrs service is Rs 23810/
Grade pay Rs 6600/ Grade pay Rs 6600/
MSP Rs 6000/ MSP Rs 6000/
Total Rs 28200/ Total Rs 36410/
50% of total Rs 14100/ 50% of total Rs 18205/-
Loss suffered every month = 18205 – 14100 = Rs 4105
With regards,
Major KP Sreedharan (Retd)

Major's Pension Anomaly- Will it ever be addressed?

Dear All,
Please find the attached letter addressed to President- click here
Rgds
Sqn Ldr YS NIJJAR (Retd)

Tribunal OKs Petition Ensuring Raised Pension for Majors
Removing anomalies of the Sixth Pay Commission, the Armed Forces Tribunal has allowed a petition which will benefit all the army Majors and officers in the same rank in the three services who had retired before 2006 and entitle them to enhanced monetary benefits.

"We direct that the pension of pre (2006) retirees should be decided on the basis of minimum of the pay in the pay band that is Rs 23,810 with all other benefits and shall be given to them," the Tribunal Bench headed by Justice A K Mathur said in its verdict.

The Tribunal has asked the Defence Ministry to complete the whole exercise within next three months.

Pointing to an earlier pay commission policy that said that the pension of all pensioners shall not be less than 50 per cent, the Bench said, "then naturally 50 per cent of this will have to be treated as a basic pension and rest of it will be added to it as grade pay and other benefits which are given to the persons of that rank".

Over 150 Major and officers of equivalent rank had filed the petition in the Tribunal to do away with the anomalies, which had resulted in the pre-2006 retirees getting lesser pension than post-2006 retired honorary captains, their Counsel Commodore Sukhjinder Singh told PTI here.

"But even after this, there will be difference between pension of pre and post 2006 retired majors and equivalents. Pension of officers retiring after 2006 would be calculated by taking 50 per cent of the highest pay scale into account whereas ours will be the same proportion of the lowest pay-scale," he added.

After this verdict, more than 5000 similarly placed retired officers will get the additional monetary benefit, which will be to the tune of Rs 5000.

The gap in pensions had increased after the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission, which came into effect from January 1, 2006.

After the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission, pension of majors was fixed at Rs 14,100 per month.

The petitioners had contended that the existing basic pay, inclusive of grade pay and military service pay, worked out to be Rs 36,410, hence their pension at the stipulated 50 per cent of basic worked out to be Rs 18,205 per month, to which they were entitled.

The pension of lieutenant colonel is fixed at Rs 25,700 whereas that of majors who retired before 2006 is Rs 14,100, creating a huge difference of Rs 11,600, the petitioners claimed. Prior to the Sixth Pay Commission, the difference was just Rs 950.
Tribunal OKs Petition Ensuring Raised Pension for Majors
PTI | New Delhi | Sep 22, 2010
Majors Pension Anomaly under RM's Radar!- RM's Reply
IESL confirms- Widows and Major's Pension Anomalies remain grounded

Pension of Majors and Equivalents

Regarding Case of Majors Pension.
Dear Chander,
Since I was not in touch with the blog for about 3 months due to some personal problems, I did not know what was happening on the blog. More than 350 e-mails had piled up in my Inbox. I have lately been reading these and saw this one to-day.

Brig NB Subramanian's S of C/ comments are very thorough and if the case includes these, I am sure it would succeed. It is very gracious of him to have taken pains to explain all aspects in detail. Also Col TN Raman deserves appreciation for his views.

May I request you to let me know if any case has been filed or is being filed by any group of Majs or IESM or any Naval or AF ESM org in respect of Pension Disparity of Pre-96/86 Majors? If so, may I request you to let me the contact details.
With warm regards,
Maj Bhupal Singh, Veteran

Brig TN Subramanian Only. I appreciate the pains taken by you for the research on the subject. It is indeed very gracious and magnanimous of you for doing so and shows your deep concern for the dis-advantaged brother veterans of all hues. My regards & best wishes,
Bhupal Singh, Veteran
Related postings
A case for increasing Pension of Majors and equivalents by TN Subramanian
RMS Blog Postings in respect of Majors Pension

gconnect discussion
Pay anomalies arising out of revised pay fixation under 6CPC
Originally Posted by cmde mmsingh
Sir,
I wish to seek your opinion on fixation of Pensions for Defence service offrs (Majors) retired prior to 2006. As per Annex 11(rev) to MoD letter no.17(4)2008(1)D (Pen/Pol) dated 20.01.09, pension of Majors, is Rs 14100/ & Lt Col 14600(old scale) now revised to Rs 25700/. Earlier difference in pension was Rs. 500/- which has now increased to 11,600/-, whereas for a major increase is only Rs. 1,700/-. Majors were drawing prior to 6th CPC Rs. 12,384/- as on 01 Jul 2006. It is apparent that the base for calculation has been taken as Rs. 6,400/- instead of Rs. 9,600/- (revised w.e.f. 01 Jul 2002 after merging 50% of DA i.e. Rs. 6,400/- + Rs. 3,200/-). Has there been any wrong base taken i.e. Rs. 6,400/- instead of Rs. 9,600/-?
There seems to be a lapse in fixing of factor of 2.26 and calculation thereafter resulting in wide gap in pensions of Major and Lt Col. Is is not a violation of article 14 of Constitution of India?
Benefit of Military Service Pay has been given to Lt Col and above ranks but denied to Majors. Has 6th CPC applied different set of rules to different rank of officers?

Dear Sir,
The base applied is correct. The large difference is due to revision of pay band of Lt Col to PB-4 instead PB-3. The minimum pension is 50% of minimum of pay band + grade pay + MSP for Majors also which comes to 14100. i.e, (15600+6600+6000). Though I am not an uniformed service personnel. On perusal of the defence orders on the subject, I have given my opinion.

SCPC: Pension anomaly- pre-2006 Majors

My dear Veterans,
I would like to pay my sincere thanks to all senior veterans, especially to Brig Subramanian and Col Raman for taking a lot of pains in bringing out the shocking pension anomaly of pre-2006 Majors and equivalents. Further, I would like to air my own views on the subject in succeeding paras.

As the learned veterans may be aware, the Government had set up a National Anomaly Committee to address the anomalies arising out of the implementation of 6CPC. The terms of this committee are expiring on 4th February 2010 and it has to give its recommendations by that date. The civilian staff side members of the committee have already finalized the points to be discussed and first meeting has already been held on 12th December 2009. For details, please visit Anomaly Committee (the details of first meeting has been posted on 14th December 2009 and the items to be discussed by the anomaly committee have been posted on 22nd April 2009). Our main interest remains with Item No. 14 of the agenda which has been deferred for next meeting.

Please go through Item No. 14 carefully to assess the likely changes in the minimum assured pension. It is needless to mention that pension of service officers is regulated on the lines of pension of civilian central Government employees.

I personally feel that in case the above point is decided favorably, there may be some changes in the pension of not only in respect of Majors but also in respect of Cols, Brigs and Maj Gens. Though there may be some changes but pension anomaly of Majors will still exist with revised data.

In view of the above, we must re-assess our case of pension anomaly of Majors after the outcome of National Anomaly Committee. In case of legal battle, the case should be fought under the umbrella of IESM (who is already in touch with some best advocates). The affected Majors should also be made petitioners along with IESM who should also contribute towards the expenditure of legal battle.
With profound regards,
Major S K Jain (Retd)

Pension of Pre- 2006 Majors and Equivalents

Dear Friends,
Jai Hind.

Firstly.
The email from Col TN Raman appended below, needs serious consideration by all ESM Organisations. It needs higher priority than the other issues being followed by us.

Secondly.
AGM of IESM is being held on 13 Dec 09 Sunday from 1000 hours to 1200 hours at AVCC, Sector 37 Noida 201301. All the IESM members residing in NCR are once again requested to make it convenient to attend the AGM.

In Service of Indian Military Veterans
Brig Chander Kamboj (Retd).

Dear Veterans,
Some time back I had taken up a case to IESM to focus its attention on the Pre 2006 Veteran Majors. A Major with 25 years service & beyond is getting a pension of 14,100/-. The pension of a Major with 20 years service is 11, 964/-. The pension of a Hony Capt with 20 years service is Rs 12,172/-.

I think this is sufficient to illustrate the predicament of Majors, the Rank, which in another 10 years is bound to become obsolete, since, all the post 2006 retirees will be retiring at a rank of minimum Lt Col.

Unless we unitedly take up the issue now, the Majors could never get a reprieve. It is heartening to learn from Lt Gen VK Chaturvedi, that the Army HQ is seized of this problem & are taking up a special case to fix their pension at 22, 800/- for calculation purposes. But to my mind they all should be equated with Lt Col (TS).

Veteran Ved Sachar claims that the Lt Cols are the worst off after the Sixth CPC. Due to the stubborn stance taken by the three Chiefs, they were moved to PB 4 from PB 3, so that they could get better pension. The pension of Lt Col & Lt Col (TS) with 25 Years Service is Rs 25, 700/. The Pension of a Col is Rs 26, 050/- & that of a Brig is 26,150/-. Whereas, the Major, who can be equated with Lt Col (TS) can get a maximum of 14, 100/-

Similarly, there is only Rs 100/- difference between a Col & Brig, which is also astounding. There are such maladies existing after the Sixth CPC. The Maj Gens case is subjudice & hence no comments. The Govt will also not comment on our representation till the Maj Gens case is resolved.

But the case of Majors, is isolated & not connected with any other issues. At least, let them not suffer the degradation of getting lesser pension than that of a Hony Capt.

Veteran Col TN Raman

Pre-2006 Majors receive pension lower than JCOs

Fresh controversy over pay panel recommendations
Vijay Mohan Tribune News Service Chandigarh, June 5, 2010
A fresh controversy over anomalies in fixation of pension has arisen, with officers who retired as Majors and equivalent claiming that their pension has not been fixed in accordance with the accepted recommendations of the Six Pay Commission (SPC) recommendations. Consequently, their pension has been fixed at the minimum scales applicable to a Lieutenant, two rungs below, thereby not only lowering their status, but also causing them a loss of several thousand rupees per month.

The matter affects thousands of officers from all three services who retired in this rank before January 2006, the date of implementation of the SPC. Based upon a petition filed by 17 officers, a Bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal comprising Justice Ghanshyam Prashad and Lt Gen HS Panag issued notices to the central government for August 2.

The minimum basic pension of a pre-2006 retired Major as on date is Rs 14,100, while that of a Major who retired in 2006 or afterwards is about Rs 22,000. On the other hand post-2006 pension of an honorary Lieutenant is Rs 15, 465 and that of an honorary Captain is Rs 16,145. These are the JCOs who have been granted an honorary rank of an officer in recognition of their services. Moreover, the difference in pension of a Major and that of Captains and Lieutenants has also narrowed down considerably after the SPC.

Whenever pay panel recommendations are implemented, modified parity is granted to employees who retired prior to the date of implementation so all past retirees are granted the benefit of the newly introduced pay scales. They are placed at the bottom of the new pay scales applicable for employees of the same grade who are serving on the date of implementation of the new scales. The SCP had, hence, fairly recommended that the pension of all those officers who retired prior to 2006 would be fixed not less than 50 per cent of the sum of the minimum pay in the pay band and the grade pay corresponding to the pre-revised pay scale from which they had retired.

Instead of continuing with separate scales for different ranks as was being done previously, the SPC initiated a system of pay bands and the earlier 35 different military and civilian scales were merged into four basic pay bands. Lieutenants, Captains and Majors were placed into a single pay band (PB-3) of Rs 15,600-39,100, with grade pay of Rs 5,400, Rs 6,100 and Rs 6,600, respectively. The Special Army Instruction issued for serving military personnel with effect from January 1, 2006, fixed the minimum basic pay for major at Rs 23,808 in addition to grade pay, military service pay making minimum admissible pay Rs 36,408. The minimum basic was Rs 15,600 for Lieutenant and Rs 18,600 and for Captain.

However, the Dept of Pensions, the petitioners contended, interpreted the above stipulation to mean that the pension of all pre-2006 retirees of the rank of Lieutenant, Captain and Major would be calculated by taking into account the minimum of PB-3.
SCPC: Pre-2006 Majors receive pension lower than JCOs

OROP: Veterans demand Justice from elected representatives

The medals don’t count. Justice is what soldiers seek
Finally, a committee of the Rajya Sabha will look into the three-decade-old demand of ex-servicemen for One Rank One Pension. Will parity still be elusive? Brijesh Pandey reports

Getting a raw deal War veterans take part in a march in Delhi for One Rank One Pension Photos: Tarun Sehrawat

FOR MILLIONS of Indians raised on stories of valour of their armed forces, it was indeed a shame to see thousands of war veterans marching to Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, returning medals won through great personal sacrifice.

Their demand was simple: pension parity or One Rank One Pension (OROP). This means servicemen of the same rank and same years of service must get equal pension irrespective of the date of superannuation. Though in principle the government agrees the demand is just, there seems no political will to back it.

After the Fifth and Sixth Pay Commissions, a big difference in pensions has been created, depending on when a serviceman retired. An officer with 35 years experience who retired before 1996 will get less pension than one with less years in service who retires after 2006. As Major General (retd) Satbir Singh points out, “A Lt Col superwho retires today would have looked after 100-120 personnel whereas at my level, one would look after 20,000 people and a much larger land area.” Though some correction has been made for commissioned officers and other ranks, the anomaly remains.

That’s not all. Armed forces veterans (AFV) have a major grouse about the administrative stranglehold on issues dear to them and the brushing aside of their problems by an apathetic bureaucracy.

Till the Third Pay Commission, pensions for armed forces personnel were based on rank and length of service in that rank. AFV got 75 percent of their last pay drawn as pension, while the administrative side got 33 percent. The Third Pay Commission, which covered the defence services for the first time, much against the will of the forces, decreased the pension of the force to 50 percent while increasing the pension of its civilian counterpart from 33 percent to 50 percent, with riders on getting full pension after 33 years of service. The advantage they had earlier was taken away in this manner.

Dignified protest A widow and a veteran display the medals given for the supreme sacrifice

“Rather than compensating for the harsh conditions of service and forced early retirement of around 85 percent of our forces, the sole beneficiary of this pension equalisation was the civil service,” points out Air Vice Marshal (retd) RP Mishra. “In the 1960s, pension of civil employees was limited to a maximum of Rs 416 per month whereas pension of a Major was Rs 475 per month and that of Chiefs was Rs 1,000 per month. In the Sixth Pay Commission, maximum pension of civil employees is Rs 45,000 per month which is the same as pension of Chiefs. Pension of Majors is just Rs 14,464 per month. Is it justified?“ asks Mishra.

This change had millions of AFV protesting. They pointed out that from 1960 to 2006, the pension of the highest ranking officers has increased 45 times, while that of the highest civilian ranking officers has increased 108 times.

“In today’s context, pension is no longer dependent on rank. Instead, it depends on years of service and emoluments,” adds Mishra. “This means that even a low-ranking individual can draw higher pension than a high-ranking one.” Satbir adds, “If one compares a soldier to a police constable, there is a difference of over Rs 45 lakh in their lifetime earnings due to early retirement and restricted promotions.”

Brigadier RKS Gulia says a question the government always raises in discussions about OROP is: what if government officers raise a similar demand? “I pointed out that 85 percent of armed forces personnel retire at 37-42 years. Another 5-12 percent retire at 44-52. Only 0.35 percent retire at the age of 60. In the civil services, they all serve up to the age of 60, get all three assured career progressions and consequently not only draw increasing pay but end up with much higher pension.”

Other than these pension anomalies, what AFV finds disturbing is the fact that there is no effort on the part of the government to improve the lot of widows of armed forces personnel, numbering close to 3.5-4 lakh. “Everybody has got something except these widows,” says Gulia. “This is the biggest worry for us because they need it more than us.”

SATBIR SINGH too is livid at the neglect of these widows, pointing out that pensions for Junior Commissioned Officers and below were raised but not for widows. This is in spite of the fact that a letter was sent to the prime minister about this discrepancy. “A bureaucratic reply stated that pension of widows was not enhanced as it had not been mentioned in the report of Committee of Secretaries. What should they do? With a meagre Rs 3,500 per month to look after herself, who knows what all she must be undergoing? Is the country being governed by our elected representatives or bureaucrats?”

From 1960 to 2006, the pension of the senior-most officers increased 45 times, while that of top civilian officers went up 108 times

What riles AFV most is political indifference, be it the defence ministry or the President of India. “We sought time from President Pratibha Patil’s office on three occasions but she has refused to meet us,” says a visibly agitated Satbir Singh, “She has time for everybody except us. And she is our Supreme Commander.”

Even the prime minister has been misled by the bureaucracy about OROP, claims AFV. “On 10 March 2008, in reply to a question in Parliament, the PM said we have accepted all the demands,” says Satbir Singh. “I immediately rang up the Opposition that the PM is misleading the country — he had accepted all the demands but the Rs 2,200 crore allocated in the budget of 2009 was never released. Within three days, the PM ordered it to be released.”

So are they hopeful that this meeting with the Rajya Sabha Appointments Committee will have a positive outcome?

“It may just be a formality,” says Gulia, “When we said so many committees have been formed and made their recommendations, nothing has happened so far, their response was that their mandate is limited. That’s why it seems to me to be more of a formality.”

While the armed forces continue to defend the borders, sometimes with the supreme sacrifice, they find they have to fight new battles when they retire. As Satbir Singh put it, “The bureaucracy and the government are treating us like chala hua kartoos (spent cartridges). The worst thing is, they are not even ashamed of it. They forget what Calvin Coleridge said: The nation that forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten.”
Brijesh Pandey is a Special Correspondent with Tehelka.
brijesh@tehelka.com
The medals don’t count. Justice is what soldiers seek

SCPC: Pre 2006 Majors and Equivalents pension disparity

MAJORS & EQUIVALENTS
Dear Sirs,
There will be no Majors retiring in future but only Lt Cols and above. If OROP is agreed to by GOI in the very near future, all other senior officer ranks will be benefited by being brought up to par with those retiring now for the same job performed. The Majors will be left behind if we agree that Major’s pension should be fixed less than that of Lt Cols. Since the entity called “retired Majors” is going to be an obsolete term in future, the surving few who will be a dwindling lot should be brought at par with Lt Cols as far as pension is concerned. To make it easy for the babus, we could recommend that Honorary rank of Lt Col, with pre-2006 retrospective effect, could be granted to all retired Majors, to not only enhance their pension but also to set right the “Izzat” factor. This will ensure fair treatment by future pay commissions. It will send the right message to the youth wanting to join the services that their services will not be forgotten.
The organisation we are competing with is the Pakistani army. They have not upgraded their commmmanding officers' ranks to Colonels from Lt Cols, or upgraded Company commanders with more than 13 years of service to the rank of Lt Cols. It will be interesting to find out if the Pakis have upgraded their Centre Commandants to Brigadier rank and in the process diluted the the "izzat" of Brigade Commanders. Do their Brigades have staff officers known as Brigade Majors or are they known as Brigade Lt Cols? Has any other army in the world distorted their internal parity of officer ranks for the sake of competing with the civil services?
To strengthen the case of Major’s, the following could be added to the list of points:
a) It is in the first twenty years of service that an officer leads the most hazardous life in difficult stations. Statistics of officer casualties during war and counter insurgency operations will show that 90% of the casualties are suffered by Lieutenants, Captains and Majors. Of all the casualties, percentage of officer casualties has always been more than that of other ranks.
b) The services officers are not in competition with any Public sector organization, but with the armies of China and Pakistan in the world’s most inhospitable terrain. They have evil designs on the security of our country. How they rehabilitate their officers who commanded Companies, Squadrons or Batteries, and completed 20 years of service, and retired, should be looked into when deliberating upon an equitable pension of their equivalents in India.
(Maj CN Anand)

Majors Pension Enhanced: AFT

Maj Navdeep Singh is a serving Territorial Army Officer.
He is a devoted soldier and takes very keen interest in the rules and regulations concerning the Defence Services, which are applicable to serving and retired Defence Personnel. He is a Lawyer in the Haryana and Punjab High Court at Chandigarh.
In service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj.

From: Navdeep Singh
Sent: 14 September 2010 08:58
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Pension shall not be less than 50% of minimum of pay within the pay- band corresponding to the pre-revised scale of a retiree : AFT
As most of you would be aware, the 6th CPC had recommended that the revised pension shall not be less than 50% of the sum of the minimum of pay in the pay band + the grade pay (+MSP in case of defence personnel) thereon corresponding to the pre-revised pay scale from which the pensioner had retired. The minimum of pay within the pay band was notified by way of a fitment formula of Old Scale X 1.86 on the basis of which fitment tables were published by the govt. For example, in case of a Major, the pay band applicable was Pay Band-3, that is, Rs 15600 – 39100 and the minimum of pay within the pay band was Rs 12,800 (minimum of old scale) X 1.86 which came to Rs 23,810. Hence the pension fixation could not be less than 50% of Rs 23,810 + Rs 6600 (Grade Pay) + Rs 6000 (MSP), that is, 50% of 36410 = Rs 18,205.

The above formula was accepted by the government through a gazette notification. However, later a clarification was issued in which it was stated that it is not the minimum of pay in the pay band that shall be taken into consideration but the minimum of the pay band itself irrespective of the pre-revised scale of pay. Meaning thereby that the pension of all the three ranks - Lieutenants, Captains and Majors, was to be fixed by taking the minimum of Rs 15600 which happened to be the lowest point of the Pay Band itself and essentially the starting pay of a Lieutenant. This meant that the minimum possible pension of a Major was to be fixed at Rs 14,100 rather than Rs 18,205.

To be fair to the Department of Pensions and Pensioners’ Welfare, they tried their best to reason out with the Department of Expenditure that their (DOE's) interpretation of pension fixation for pre-2006 retirees was not right and that it needed to be corrected and the clarification revised. But despite the fact that the Ministers (MoS) of both the Finance and the Personnel Ministries were in favour of the correction in the right spirit of the 6th CPC recommendations, it was ensured by the lower level babus at the Ministry of Finance that it did not happen. The case was taken up time and again by the DoP&PW but was always rejected by the DoE.

The first correction now comes from the Hon’ble Principal Bench of the AFT which has rightly interpreted the term ‘minimum of pay’ as being the minimum of pay within the pay band and not the minimum of pay band itself. Hopefully the DoE shall see reason and ensure that the dockets of Hon’ble Courts and Tribunals are not burdened with unnecessary litigation on the same point and also see that pre-2006 retirees, both civilian and defence, are ensured equity.

The havoc that the incorrect interpretation had led to can be fathomed by the fact that while the difference between the minimum possible pension of a Captain and a Major was Rs 875 till the 5th CPC, it went down to Rs 250 after the 6th CPC rather than escalating with the increased scales. While on the other hand, the difference of pension between a Major and a Time Scale Lt Col was only Rs 950 till the 5th CPC era and today it has gone up to Rs 11,600 after the 6th CPC. And this my friends had been termed as ‘parity’ by the mandarins at the Finance Ministry !
Posted by Navdeep / Maj Navdeep Singh at 5:09 PM

Anomaly in pension of Majors and Equivalents

While in service, a Major and a Time Scale Lt Col perform the same/ similar job. The latter, after certain length of service, used to be just given a 'honourific rank' only, before his retirement. Also, there was very little difference in their basic pay. However as per the sixth Pay Commission Award, the difference in pension between these two ranks is Rs 11,600/- (Rupees Eleven thousand and six hundred only), to the disadvantage of the majors which and violates the law of ‘Natural Justice’, viz, ‘same compensation for same job’ (work done).
Majors and equivalent ranks in the Navy and the Air Force, form the ‘cutting edge’ in their respective services and are a vital link in the chain of command. They directly train and administer their troops in peace and lead them from the front in war. Their lowered pension is NOT commensurate with their great contribution, both in peace and in war.
With the new pension scale the status of majors has been lowered than that of those who are of lower in rank and might have been their subordinates but are retiring now.
In view of the foregoing, it is suggested that the existing vast gap of Rs 11,600/- (Rupees Eleven thousand Six hundred only) in the pensions of the majors and the Lt Cols be reduced to the levels of awards by the previous Pay Commissions. The difference between their pensions must not exceed more than 10% and a major must get a minimum basic pension of Rs 22500/- (Rupees Twenty Two thousand and five hundred only).
Sqn Ldr SP Bains (Retd)
Major SS Dhillon (Retd)

Enhanced Pension for all Majors and Equivalents: AFT Verdict

MAJORS AND EQUIVALENTS' PENSION CASE IN AFT - WE HAVE WON
Dear Friends,
Jai Hind.
Kindly read the emails appended below.
On behalf of YOU ALL, ‘i’ congratulate Lt Cdr Avtar Singh and his team for their victory in the pension case of Majors and Equivalents.
WELL DONE VALIANT SOLDIERS OF BHARAT VARSH.
BUT WHAT A PITY –
OUR SUPREME COMMANDER, THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA, THE PM, RM AND THE BABUS FORCED US TO DO THIS.
DOES THE COUNTRY WANT US TO PROTECT ITS BORDERS OR SPEND OUR EFFORTS TO PROTECT OUR SELVES FROM THE CHEATS AROUND US?
ARE THE POLITICIANS OF INDIA LISTENING???
Cdr Avtar and his team has put one more stamp of “BIG SHAME” on the face of MoD and that gang, called “Babus”, who have been shamelessly and deliberately doing injustice to the ESM.
Jai Ho ESM Unity.
I request all ESM to give widest possible publicity to the contents of this email.
Please also print relevant portions of this email put on notice boards in Officers Clubs, Community Centres, CSD and ECHS Poly Clinics.
In service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj.

From: avtar singh avtar_singh10@hotmail.com
Subject: Major Case with AFT Delhi
Date: Tuesday, 14 September, 2010, 1:48 PM
Dear All,
I am pleased to inform you that we have won the case filed with AFT Delhi
Regards
Avtar Singh
14-9-2010

From: CDR BALAJI
Sent: 14 September 2010 03:31
To: avtar singh
Subject: Re: Major Case with AFT Delhi
Dear Sir,
Good News and Heartiest Congratulations to your goodself for spearheading the same on behalf of Majors and Eqv. I do understand that the Judgement Copy would take some time. However, in the interim if you could enlighten us on the main issues on which the AFT has passed the Judgement, we would indeed be obliged.
Needless, to state that the GOI would appeal against the Judgement in the Supreme Court, but I am positive we would win the case, as it is indeed a case of blatant injustice.
Regards,
L/Cdr GK Balaji
Member, Pension Cell IESM

Dear Members,
We are pleased to inform that we have won the case for the enhanced Pension payable to Lt Cdrs, filed by Cdr Avtar Singh and well fought by Cmde Skhjinder Singh. The judgment was pronounced this morning by the tribunal bench headed by Justice Mathur and Lt Gen M Naidu. Copy of the judgment will be available only in a couple of days and the same will also be promulgated for your information.
The Lt Commanders will now be entitled to a pension of 50% of what the serving Lt Commander in service are drawing. It may make a difference of about Rs 4000 in their pensions.
We were awaiting the outcome of this case to file the Case for the Cmdes/ Brigs etc and the needful will be done shortly. Cmde Sukhjinder will be steering this case and NFDC will also be a litigant.
This is another battle won for the Veterans with the help of the judicial process but there are good reasons to believe that as is now the norm, the MOD will file an SLP.
Vice Admiral Harinder Singh (Retd)

IESM: Pre 2006 Majors pension disparity

Dear Veteran Bhupal Singh,
The IESM is pursuing OROP. It aims at equating pre 2006 Majors with post 2006 Majors. The difference between the salary of a Lt Col and a Major, after the former were brought up in PB4, is a subject dealing with change of salary structure and falls within the purview of the Service HQ. I believe they are pursuing it.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM

Dear All,
Please refer to Pension of Pre- 2006 Majors: click me
Thank God some one has considered it appropriate to highlight this glaring anamoly in pension of pre-2006 Major rank retirees . I appreciate the feeling expressed by Col Ramantan. I have been time & again expressing my agony about this abnormal anamoly and urging the President & the Vice President of IESM to make a special mention of this anamoly in all representations but none felt so to do it. I am not aware if the Armed Services heirarchy has given a thought to this or if they have ever taken up this anamoly especially. They say, it is better late than never. So be it.

Let us hope, some one takes it up now with detailed facts and figures so as to justify it undeniably.
With regards to all,
Maj Bhupal Singh Veteran

Enhanced Pension for Majors and Equivalents with over 20 years service

Major with 21 yrs service Pension of Time Scale Lt Col Para 5 (a) (iv) of Special Army Instruction (SAI) 2/S/98
Dear Kamboj Sir,
The SAI/2/S/98 was issued and officers of the Rank of Major who had 21 years service were to get Lt Col Pension. Many have not got it and hence the letter below may be sent by them to the AG Branch.

Officers of equivalent ranks from Navy and Airforce may also write to inquire if such provision was there for them too and if so why it was not implemented in an individual case.
Brgds,
Cdr Ravindra Waman Pathak
Member Governing Body and Pension Cell IESM
From: IC-___ Major ____ (Retd)Address
To:
1. Additional Director General Personnel Services, PS Directorate, Army HQrs, DHQ PO, New Delhi – 110 011
2. Controller of Defence Accounts (Officers), Golibar Maidan, Pune, Maharashtra
3. Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions), Draupadi Ghat, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh 20th October 2010 Non-grant of Pay Scale and Pension of Time Scale Lt Col till date as per the provisions of Para 5 (a) (iv) of Special Army Instruction (SAI) 2/S/98

Sir,
1. I, IC-_____, Maj ______, retired from .......... ..... after approximately __ years of service in the rank of substantive Major on 31-01-1998. As per Para 5 (a) (iv) of SAI 2/S/98, officers who were substantive Majors prior to 01-01-1996 and who could not be promoted as Time Scale or Selection Grade Lt Cols were to be automatically granted the pay scale of time scale Lt Col (without promotion to the actual rank of TS Lt Col) on completion of 21 years of service with effect from 01-01-1996. I was commissioned on 15-03-1970 and was a substantive Major with more than 21 years of service as on 01-01-1996. The said scale as per the SAI was not granted to me and I was retired in the pay and pension of a Major and not of a Lt Col. It seems that all of my similarly placed fellow officers have been granted the benefit except me.
2. In view of the above, you are requested to kindly initiate the process of granting me the pay-scale and pension of time scale Lt Col with effect from 01-01-1996 as per the provisions of the ibid SAI which has not been done till date probably due to some oversight at your end.
3. An early action with intimation to the undersigned is requested please. Thanking You
Maj ____(Retd)

Rank Pay: Unwinding the Bureaucratic Tangle

09 Oct 12
Dear Veterans,
Jai Hind.
I have received some important emails from Head of Pension Division of IESM. The emails are appended below for your information.
On behalf of you all I thank IESM in general and Pension Division of IESM in particular, for putting in all out efforts for the welfare of the veterans. Keep it up Gp Capt SS Phatak and all members of the Pension Division.
Regards
Chander Kamboj
MY third visit to CDA(O) Pune
From: Suhas Phatak
Dear All,
I visited office of CDA(O) Pune this afternoon to find out progress or otherwise on following pending issues:
1 Rank pay arrears after SC judgement
2 GOI letter dated 24 Sep 12 about further clarification on AI2/S/98.(Major's revised minimum guaranteed pension)
3 Enhancement of pension for officers.
Addl CDA(O) Pune was on leave today. I met Mr Agashe, Dy CDA and discussed Rank Pay case. As per him office of CDA(O) Pune is working out financial effect(burden) from whatever data is available which will be transmitted to higher authorities. By all estimates Govt will ask for some more time beyond three months.
Once Govt orders are issued CDA(O) will remit all arrears including gratuity, encashment leave salary difference if any directly to officers account submitted by him.
Action on point no 2 above will be taken suo moto by PCDA Allahabad by issue of Corr PPO.
Similarly PCDA Allahabad will action point no 3 by issue of Corr PPO.
It is now important that IESM Gov Body members at Delhi must find out about the progress on issue of Govt letters in question either from MOD or Law ministry etc. I am sending Form No 10E of Income Tax Act: Click here for submission as and when arrears are credited. Please examine this in detail and submit when you get arrears.
Regards,
Gp Capt Suhas Phatak(retd)

From: Suhas Phatak
Sent: 09 October 2012 18:20
To: cda-albd@nic.in
Cc: CGDA New Delhi-10
Subject: Govt letter dated 24 Sep 12
Dear Sir,
I have attached govt letter dated 24 Sep 12 which is now revising pension of Majors and equivalent ranks from IAF and Indian Navy authorizing them minimum guaranteed pension of Rs 25,700.00 wef 01 Jan 2006 in Pay Band -4. I was told by officers at CDA (O) Pune that your office will take suo moto action on this letter and issue Corr PPO in respect of all officers affected thus. This letter has not reached office of CAD(O) Pune as yet.
You are requested to confirm this and time frame for completion of this task. Second Addressee:- You are requested to clarify whether all those officers who have completed 15 years before 31 Dec 2005 in absorbed PSU/ Govt Dept / Ministry and who had opted for 100% commutation while joining such organization , will now be paid pension as per VIth Pay Commission at par with other officers of same rank and QS. This question has assumed importance with this letter and also decision of the Govt to enhance officers pension as per GOM's recommendations.

From: IESM Suhas Phatak
Sent: 09 October 2012 21:18
To: IESM
Cc: GB IESM
Subject: Points for GB Meeting on 15 Oct 2012
Dear all,
I may add some points.
A) check from min of Defence or min of Law about issue of all letters after PIB announcement.
B) letter to CGDA asking him not to pass the responsibility of payment of Arrears to Banks(PDA).
C) Letter to PCDA to prioritize issue of PPOs for Pre 2006 retirees in the order suggested earlier in one my e mails.
D) All CDAs must carry out special review of all F and F/BC PPOs for correctness of payment to widows.
E) Consult experts and take up with CBDT or Min of Fin for exemption of income tax while paying arrears of Rank Pay. Govt has shifted it's responsibility of paying interest from 01 Jan 86 to 01 Jan 2006, ie 20 years.
Regards,
Gp Capt Suhas Phatak(retd)
Comment: Further delay in Payment of Arrears should entail payment of arrears with interest from 1986 and not 2006. We need to approach the court again for extended delays.

One rank one pension for ex-servicemen

6 Jul 2009, 1459 hrs IST, ECONOMICTIMES.COM
Our country owes a deep debt of gratitude to our valiant ex-Servicemen. The Government has decided to substantially improve the pension of pre
1.1.2006 defence pensioners below officer rank (PBOR) and bring pre 10.10.1997 pensioners on par with post 10.10.1997 pensioners.

The Committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary on OROP has submitted its report and the recommendations of the Committee have been accepted. On the basis of these recommendations, both these decisions will be implemented from 1st July 2009 resulting in enhanced pension for more than 12 lakh jawans and JCOs.

These measures will cost the exchequer more than Rs 2,100 crore annually. Certain pension benefits being extended to war wounded and other disabled pensioners are also being liberalised.
One rank one pension for ex-servicemen

Readers Opinions Write to Editor
WO KC Tripathi, Gandhinagar, says: Personnel below officer rank are getting lesser pension. They should be considered for better pension.
[10 Jul, 2009 1508hrs IST]

Lt Col Surjit Balaggan, Jalandhar, says: So far the officers have remained apolitical. But now they will turn to BJP or other Party which can assure that it would not create divide between Officers and PBOR. Officers to wake up and unite, please.
[9 Jul, 2009 1927hrs IST]

Col R P Singh Retd, Lucknow, says: It is this attitude of Govt that forces retired army officers to join politics after retirement, otherwise, unlike sarkari babus(read IAS class), army officers remain aloof from politics while in service. If this treatment continues, soon you will find political affiliations creeping into servining army officers. that is the day, these politicians should dread.
[7 Jul, 2009 2101hrs IST]

Lt.Col.S.P.Dureja, Delhi, says: Once the principle of OROP has been accepted,I hope it will be implemented for officers too. We have full faith in Govt headed by Sh Manmohan Singh. Let us hope retired officers will not be discriminated
[7 Jul, 2009 1906hrs IST]

Col K Tiwari, VSM(retd), Gurgaon, says: It is a shame to exclude the Officers from OROP. Officer to jawan ratio in the Army is around 40:1. But ratio of war casualty is 10:1. Army officers of the Indian Army, lead from the front for the honour of the country. What an honour has been given to these officers by the budget. Ommission of officers from the provisions of OROP shall create a divide between Officers and others. It is similar to the divide created by VP Singh by Mandal Commission. What British could not do VP Singh and present government has done. No self respecting Indian will join Indian defense forces. Babus are having the last laugh. No wonder, after each war, Chief of Army Staff has been going down in order of precedence in protocol. May God help my country.
[6 Jul, 2009 2104hrs IST]

Air Cmde Raghubir Singh (Retd), Pune, says: It is good that PBOR's who needed it most -have been granted the OROP. If principle of OROP has been accepted it would be illogical to divide the cohesive family of service people on this count? In a democracy opposition is as important if not more -as the ruling party. The budget has lack luster & has not been well received. The sensex has given reverse arms salute by dipping 870 points?
[6 Jul, 2009 2049hrs IST]

Devindra sethi, delhi, says: Dear PM in 1971 India's finest hour in over 2000years was ensured by young officers of the armed forces by defeating Pakistan.A Baluch soldier captured as a POW said if we had you as our officers we would have defeated the Indian army.Those young officers are senior citizens today&you have let them down.We are happy for our soldiers(PBOR)but they feel(PBOR) the izzat of the paltan has been demolished today. A backlash will come be assured of that as your party's myopic stance & arrogance is already building up a stiff response in the countryside. Most of the officers are from small towns of India.
[6 Jul, 2009 2017hrs IST]

Mohan Kunnath, Palakkad, says: If what is stated by the Finance Minister is final, soon you would find many of the Pre 2006 pensioners (Majors) receiving lesser pension than a JCO pensioner. Does it in anyway take us anywhere near OROP?
[6 Jul, 2009 1846hrs IST]

Sqn.Ldr. C.S. Gandhi, Chandigarh, says: what about OROP for officers? There is no news about it.
[6 Jul, 2009 1759hrs IST]
One rank one pension for ex-servicemen

SCPC: Majors Pension- pre 2006

Dear Brigadier Kamboj,
While I agree that the pre -2006 Majors have been meted out the worst deal among the officers, by the 6th Pay Commission, the fact is that the Government has wronged all the older lot of pensioners up to the rank of Major Generals. Just one example; is there justice in granting a person commanding a company & equivalent in post 2005 period, some Rs.5000 to 6000 more in pension than a pre 2006 retiree Major General who commanded a force about 150 times than that commanded by the new Majors (Lt col/ time scale Colonel).

The cases of old Havildars and Subedar Majors are also of the same category. In fact every old pensioner has been discriminated against. I am of the opinion that the IESM should not take cases piecemeal, as it will be detrimental to the over all struggle.

I feel that we should make a comprehensive case for OROP which if need be, can also be the basis for a court case, which in all probabilities will be the finale of our struggle.

With best wishes & regards,
Col MMP Kala

Damage inflicted on Ex Servicemen due to Rank Upgradation by the Serving Chiefs'

Dear Brigadier Kamboj,
Thanks for the information.
I would like to say that the concept of OROP needs a wee bit modification. The Armed Forces do a great harm to the retirees by upgrading their rank structure e.g. a company, which was commanded by a major, is now being commanded by a Lt Col. While the serving officers may feel elated, see the plight of the old majors who, having put in over 26 years of service, are now being given pension equal to that of a platoon commander (Now Majs). In the revised scheme of things, no one remains major on putting in 14 years of service, and save for those who die in service, no one would be retiring as a major (SL commission officers included). My own battalion lost a number of majors in 1965 and 71 wars; why should their widows get the pension due to deceased platoon commanders as today?

I feel that there is a case for modifying the concept of OROP which should include equal pension for equal work; after all this is the principle being applied all over in the civil.

There is also a case for requesting the Three Chiefs not to upgrade the ranks arbitrarily as it hits the pensioners badly; they should have simply got the Majors in PB4 and saved the older lot, a lot of discomfort.
With best Regards,
Col MMP Kala, Retd


Dear Brig Kamboj,
This letter (click me) so painstakingly drafted by the indomitable Gen Bahri is, without doubt, the best paper produced by the veterans so far. It is simple, cogent and in fact compelling. I think the rest of us should simply stick to the logic of this communication, without complicating it with any more figures and tables. Perhaps one single example which reveals the imbalance of the current dispensation is in the following relativity:

"A Col (TS) with 26 years service who may have commanded no more than a company has been granted a pension which is just Rs 100 less than a Brigade Commander who had put in 36 years service."

Legal eagles tell me that we have a weak case, in the court of law. But I think that the present dispensation fouls with "natural justice" and I think we will be able to find a competent lawyer who will be able to take on the might of legal cell of the Govt of India.

We also need to continuously remind the serving generals to keep knocking at the doors of those who have the power to act.

The Pay Cell has all but wound up. Before leaving their office, they sent me some tables which I am attaching, for what they are worth.
(Note: The tables mentioned here require some processing before these can be mass emailed. Will be forwarded to all members soon – Chander Kamboj)
With best wishes,
Surjit
Maj Gen Surjit Singh, EME, Veteran, Member IESM Steering Committee

Dear All,
Thanks for circulating the JOINT LETTER, which is very well written. Hopefully it should bring results.

I had read in the blog of Maj Navdeep about 'disparity' in compensation given to a CADET and RECRUIT, when they are boarded out- while undergoing training. There would be some more such issues, which though do not form part of OROP yet have a great bearing on those unfortunate ones, who are affected.

Does our community of ESMs like to bring out such cases to the notice of people, who are still in uniform? These issues, once noticed by our friends in UNIFORM, should form part of normal 'CORRECTIVE DRILL'. At least we should be able to set our own house in order.
Warm regards,
Lt Col Inderjit Singh Gill, Veteran

Pension Review for pre- 2006 Majors and Equivalents

Dear Brig CS Kamboj,
I am a retired Lt Cdr who is effected by the low pension after implementation of the the VI CPC Recommendations. I am honoured to read through your mail the interest taken by Veteran Officers and specifically to Brig Subramanian's honest attempt to look after the forgotten Majors' pension for review through a SOC.
I have gone through the case and wish to humbly submit my understanding of the case as a write up to strenghten the case click here. The earlier Letter written by self to CNS and the explanation on Anomaly for Fitment of Pay Scales are also attached.

I shall be grateful if the same is gone through and projected to right authorities, including to Gen Kadyan of IESM. I shall be more than willing to clarify if any issue is not understood or expressed incorrectly.

Thanking you and with warm and respectful regards,

Yours sincerely,
Lt Cdr(Retd) PS Nath

Majors reduced to Minuscules by Bureaucrats

Dear Sqn Ldr Srinivasan,
I am extremely grateful to you for the e-mail you have sent out for our cause.

Today every aspect of Indian bureaucracy, including the once pristine armed forces, is in complete shambles due to personal greed, selfishness and lack of leadership. The prime minister is not someone like Winston Churchill of Napoleon Bonaparte whom you quote but a weakling acting like the Regent at the imperial court of the uncrowned Queen of India, an unworthy import of the notorious "BOFORS CHOR" from the land of mafia.

On top of all this is the alarming political VACUUM at the top due to total lack of direction and patriotism. Individually, a BILLION of us are aware of all this, but collectively, we cannot even match the punch delivered by one closed fist.

From top to bottom, we have the "baboos & banyas" ruling the roost showing little personal initiative and zero power of discretion, who cling to jobs by either being silent to the uproar around them or just giving response under the dark cloud of FEAR that translates into "If he is given an inch a million more will demand it!" And so NONE gets what is even legally due. Each of us will have a different story to tell- all full of bitter disappointments and despair.

I can only speak for myself. My own experience has been so disappointing and frustrating that I have lost all hope of getting a pie for pension any more. In short, I used to send Pension Bills to my bank in New Delhi. They in turn would misplace, lose or not receive them! I would send the same again, and finally by registered post. In June and November last year and in April this year I sent my pension claim through the Military Attache of Indian HC in London but received neither a reply nor pension money. CDA has gone silent if not dead. Finally on Christmas Day, 2010, I sent a letter to Defense Minister himself by air mail. It, too, brought NO result.

What I suggested to RM (Raksha Mantri) was that my pension should be credited by CDA every month without fail to my bank account in New Delhi and I would send LIFE CERTIFICATE to them once a year. This is the system in all civilized countries while India still seems to be stuck to her colonial past and, perhaps, waiting for a revolution to bring about a complete clean up.

Now I am thinking of addressing the Supreme Commander, a lady who seems as loyal to any Major, Air Commodore or ex serviceman as Nehru was to LAHORE in 1947 and Mrs. Feroze Khan (so-called Indira Gandhi!) was to East Bengal that was duly returned to the ENEMY after inflicting a crushing defeat on Pakistan when she could have even recovered North Kashmir, hands down.

So I have come to the conclusion that "Raksha Mantri" or the "Rashtrapatni", they are all stuck to glue like a flapping fly. After decades of observation one can identify the nature of this glue. But that is another story that has to do with the illegitimate and ignominious birth of the "Partitioned Indian Secular State" in 1947 rather than just the "majors to minuscules".
Fortunately I am living in the United Kingdom where I shall not face starvation or poverty like my former 'comrades in arms' in Bharat right now. I feel sorry for the charities that I used to support in the land of my birth (India).
Regards
Rajinder Singh Rajput

Demands of Ex Services League Punjab and Chandigarh

Monday, 28 September 2009
PATIALA: Indian Ex-Services League, Punjab & Chandigarh has sought a better deal for Havildars and Sub Majors from the Centre Government Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal, president of league in his memorandum faxed to Defence Minister, AK Antony, has asked the government to change the Pay-Band for Havildars and equivalent ranks from PB-I to PB-II and for Subedar Majors and equivalent ranks from PB-II to PB-III since the Sixth Pay Commission have degraded their ranks.

League stressed upon the government that the soldiers of the rank of Havildar form the real backbone of Defence Forces and Sub Maj acts as a Chief executor of the strategy in the war. These two ranks have been virtually crushed by the recommendations of Sixth Central Pay Commission and further demeaned by faulty implementation resulting in reduced pay and salaries. The Havildars have been virtually equated to class-IV civilians such as Peons, Chowkidars, Mali and Dhobi etc in respect of pay.

League has further asked the Minister to release immediately the orders for promised ONE RANK ONE PENSION for Junior Commissioned Officers, Senior Non-Commissioned Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and other ranks which was announced by Finance Minister in Union Budget on 6 July 2009, and then by the Minister himself in the Parliament and finally by Prime Minister on Independence Day but the orders regarding the same has not not been issued so far.

League has also reminded the Minister that the government had also promised to give pension to soldiers up to the rank of Havildar at 70% and to JCOs at 60% of the last pay drawn to compensate for their early compulsory retirement, but to the great disappointment of the soldiers, these orders have also not seen the light so far whereas orders regarding change of Pay Band from PB-III to PB-IV for the Lt Cols have been issued long ago although these recommendations were made by the same group of ministers in the same report. With this partial treatment given to lower ranks, a great resentment is prevailing in the Defence Forces and among the veterans which is not good for nation’s security.

League has further demanded two pensions for the widows of ex-servicemen who drew two pensions during their life time. Because of early compulsory retirement, most of the soldiers have to seek employment in civil departments to compensate for their meagre pension which they draw by virtue of their service in the Defence Forces. Such veterans draw two pensions after their retirement from civil departments but their widows are not entitled for second pension as per the present pension policy.

Along with this, League has gone further to demand befitting alternate re-employment for the soldiers up to the age of 60 years like their civilian counter parts since about 90% among the soldiers are compulsory retired prior to their superannuation to keep the forces young.

League has vehemently stressed upon the government to fulfill the demands of veterans at the earliest lest they take to the streets like civilian counter parts.
Last but not the least, the league has forcefully demanded that government authorities do not use the term PBORs for Junior Commissioned Officers, Senior Non-Commissioned Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and other ranks as they feel much humiliated and demeaned by such inglorious attributes.
VETERAN PRABHJOT SINGH CHHATWAL
THE PRESIDENT, EX-SERVICES LEAGUE, PUNJAB & CHANDIGARH
Posted By Muthukrishnan to indianexserviceman at 9/28/2009 07:48:00 PM