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)

Family Pension of Lt Col and Equivalent Ranks

Lt Gen Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman
262, Sector-17A, Gurgaon – 122 001
Mobile-9811226676
IESM/Pension/Family/2011
Dated: 17 January 2011

To:
Mrs Sushma Nath, IAS
Secretary Ex Servicemen Welfare Department
Ministry of Defence
South Block, New Delhi – 110 011

Family Pension: Lt Col and Equivalent Ranks
Widows of Lt Cols and their equivalent ranks had been drawing a monthly pension of Rs 15,420.00 after implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission and after the Lt Cols were upgraded to Pay Band 4. This had been correctly worked out based on 30% of the sum of the minimum of pay band (Rs 37,400) + Grade Pay (Rs 8000) + Military Service Pay (Rs 6000). Widows have accordingly been getting their pension and have also received the arrears. However, an assumed error has now been introduced in the pension tables issued by the Ministry of Defence vide their circular dated 15.11.2010. According to these tables, the family pension of a Lt Col is fixed at Rs 8,760.00. It seems the Lt Col and equivalents have again been brought down to Pay Band 3 by those that prepared these tables.
The figure of Rs 8,760.00 as monthly family pension of Lt Col is beyond comprehension and this has caused avoidable consternation in the Ex Servicemen community, who are already edgy at their still pending demand of ‘one rank one pension’. I do sincerely hope this is only an error. May I request you to have it kindly rectified at the earliest.
A confirmation will be much appreciated.
With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Raj Kadyan

All Lt Cols authorised residential telephone

Wednesday, February 10, 2010
All Lt Cols across the board have now been authorised residential telephone at home as per orders issued by the MoD.

The facility would be provided through military network as far as possible and if not so provided then a re-imbursement of Rs 1500/- per month can be claimed through contingency grants.

The authorisation would be read in conjunction with the earlier letters issued on the subject by the Ministry of Finance.
The govt letter on the subject can be downloaded here.
Posted by Navdeep / Maj Navdeep Singh

SCPC: Degraded Rank of Lt Cols Normalised

No. 17(4)/2008(1 )/D (Pen/Policy), Government of India, Ministry of Defence, Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, New Delhi, Dated: 21st May 2009
To,
The Chief of the Army Staff
The Chief of the Naval Staff
The Chief of the Air Staff
SUBJECT: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GOVERNMENT DECISION ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SIXTH CENTRAL PAY· COMMISSION ­REVISION OF PENSION OF PRE-1.1.2006 ARMED FORCES PENSIONERS/ FAMILY PENSIONERS.
Sir,
The undersigned is directed to refer to this Ministry's letter No. 17(4)/2008(1)/ D(PenlPolicy) dated 11.11.2008 on the above subject as amended vide this Ministry's letter of even No. dated 20.1.2009 and to state that the pay structure for the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Army (other than MNS Officers) and equivalent ranks in Navy and Air Force issued in implementation of the recommendations of Sixth CPC, has been further revised under Special Army Instruction No. 2/S/2008, Special Navy Instruction No. 2/S/2008 and Special Air Force Instruction No. 2/S/2008 dated 21st April 2009 respectively, under which Lieutenant Colonel and equivalent officer in Navy and Air Force have been placed in Pay Band- 4 (i.e. Rs. 37400 - Rs. 67000) with Grade Pay of Rs. 8,000/- p.m. and MSP of Rs. 6,000/- p.m. Accordingly, the rates of minimum guaranteed pensionlfamily pension for the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (Substantive)/ Lieutenant Colonel (Time Scale) and equivalent ranks in Navy & Air Force, as notified in Annexure-II (Revised) to this Ministry's above quoted letter dated 20.1.2009, are substituted with the rates indicated in enclosed Annexure.
2. All other enteries remain unchanged.
3. This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Division of this Ministry vide their UO No.1817/09/D(Fin/Pen) dated 5.5.2009.
4. Hindi version will follow.
Sd xxx
(Harbans Singh)
Director (Pension/Policy)
Copy to: As per standard distribution list.

Annexure to MoD letter No 17(4)/2008(1)/D(Pen/Pol) dated 21.5.2009
Ammendment to Annexure – II (Revised) attached to MoD letter No 17(4)/2008(1)/D(Pen/ Pol) dated 11.11.2008 as ammended vide this ministy’s letter of even No. Dated 20.1.2009
Qualifying Service/ Lt Col (TS)/ Lt Col (S)
10/ 11682/ 13240
10.5/ 12072/ 13629
11/ 12461/ 14019
11.5/ 12850/ 14408
12/ 13240/ 14797
12.5/ 13629/ 15187
13/ 14019/ 15576
13.5/ 14408/ 15966
14/ 14797/ 16355
14.5/ 15187/ 16744
15/ 15576/ 17134
15.5/ 15966/ 17523
16/ 16355/ 17913
16.5/ 16744/ 18302
17/ 17134/ 18691
17.5/ 17523/ 19081
18/ 17913/ 19470
18.5/ 18302/ 19860
19/ 18691/ 20249
19.5/ 19081/ 20638
20/ 19470/ 21028
20.5/ 19860/ 21417
21/ 20249/ 21807
21.5/ 20838/ 22198
22/ 21028/ 22585
22.5/ 21417/ 22975
23/ 21807/ 23364
23.5/ 22196/ 23754
24/ 22585/ 24143
24.5/ 22975/ 24532
25/ 23364/ 24922
25.5/ 23754/ 25311
26/ 24143/ 25700
26.5/ 24532/ 25700
27/ 24922/ 25700
27.5/ 25311/ 25700
28/ 25700/ 25700
28.5/ 25700/ 25700
29/ 25700/ 25700
29.5/ 25700/ 25700
30 & above/ 25700/ 25700
TABLE – 2 : FAMILY PENSION
Lt Col(TS) 15430
Lt Col(S) 15420
NOTES:
1. While the qualifying service indicated in the Table- 1 above is the actual qualifying service. the amount of pension indicated is inclusive of the rank weightage as admissible in terms of Para 5.1 (b) (II) of this Minstry's letter No. 1 (6)/98/D(Pen/Sers) cIt 3.2.1998.
2. The difference in the amount of pension for the same qualifying service of Lt Col (TS) and LlCol (S) is due to dlfferent rank weightage available to Lt Col (TS) and Lt Col (S) in terms of Para 5.1 of MOD letter No 1(6)/98/D(Pension/Services) dated 3.2.1998.

Lt Col rank officers in armed forces placed in higher pay band

22 Apr 2009, 0443 hrs IST, TNN
NEW DELHI: More than 15,000 officers of the armed forces in the rank of lieutenant colonels, wing commanders and commanders in the Navy have been placed under Pay Band-4 of the sixth pay commission, making substantial difference in their salary packages.

The seven-month-long fight of the armed forces demanding pay parity with their civilian counterparts bore fruit with the forces headquarters on Tuesday notifying amended orders to place lieutenant colonel rank officers in the upper pay band.

The government had earlier this year approved demands raised by the armed forces-- Pay Band-4 for Lt Cols and equivalent and 70% pensionary weightage for jawans — based on recommendations by a ministerial committee under foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee. The notification for restoration of 70% pensionary weightage to jawans is, however, yet to be notified.

The benefits to Lt Colonels has, however, come with a condition. Only those officers who are serving in the parent organisation in "combat or combat-ready" roles, and who are not on deputation drawing higher pay from public sector undertakings, will get this benefit.

The other demands of the armed forces to resolve issues of grade pay parity of officers from captains to brigadiers with their civilian counterparts, and placing lieutenant generals in Higher Administrative Grade Plus pay scales on par with director generals of police have, however, been ignored.

"The amended notification for placing Lt Cols and equivalents in Pay Band-4 of the sixth pay commission has been issued today," a senior officer in the tri-services headquarters said here.
Lt Col rank officers in armed forces placed in higher pay band

SCPC: Pay Anomaly of Lieutenant Colonel

Comparison Chart of Pay of Lt Cols With Civilian Officers
I discussed this matter with a civilian officer colleague to get the other point of view and the following aspects emerged:

1. The civilian officer disputed that Lt Cols were at par with S-25. They like to think that Lt Cols are par with S-23 as the Lt Col's pay scales less Rank Pay fit 'within' the S-23 pay scale. (The starting of S-23 is even lower than the Lt Cols Basic less Rank Pay!) They completely negate factoring into the rank pay for the purpose of finding equivalent pay scales and for that matter inter se seniority. Is there any authority to settle this argument? From an army officer's perspective, army pay scales were 'independent' and can only be translated now to civilian equivalent after adding the rank pay. That would make it equivalent to S-25 (In fact the outer end of army's scale is superior to even S-25). Equivalence to S-25 seems fair to army officers as Rank Pay was included wherever basic was considered for the purpose of any sort of entitlements. And of course it was part of total pay drawn.

2. Even the VI Pay Commission has included the Rank Pay for calculating (multiplying by 1.86) the new Basic Pay for army officers who were already drawing the rank pay on 01 Jan 06. But they have fixed grade pay by negating the Rank Pay! Now officers getting promoted in future will have entry pay only on the basis of their grade pay. So the benefit of Rank Pay is there only for now and is set to vanish in future!

3. While explaining the origins of Rank Pay there is a line in the report that the rank pay was originally carved out of the army pay scales. That was at a time of running pay bands and Rank Pay was it seems to remove the problem of junior ranking officers with more service (increments) getting more pay than senior ranking officers with less increments. So if it was originally carved out of pay scales, how can it not be merged back to pay scales while doing away with the concept of Rank Pay?

4. As per the Air/Naval Chiefs statement Lt Cols are equivalent to S-25. They are very much including the rank pay for finding equivalent civilian scales. But I suspect that the people who really matter in this argument are civilian bureaucrats who don't seem to think so.

5. If Rank pay is not to be counted within basic then how do you compensate for rank pay while translating to civilian equivalent scales? The civilian officers like to think that MSP compensates for that loss. But isn't the MSP supposed to be a 'New Entitlement'. Why else are there are no arrears to MSP! Why is then Rank Pay included for fitment to new Basic Pay? It should not be included if MSP replaces Rank Pay. The pay commission report at some places indicates that it is a new entitlement: no arrears of MSP, MSP is also auth to Lieutenants and Personnel Below Officer Ranks who did not have any Rank Pay earlier! But it also at another place very ambiguously says that the calculation of MSP for PBOR is somehow affected by the lack of rank pay!?! Now anyone can interpret depending on which side he is on.

6. In any case as far as Lt Cols are concerned even MSP is not able to compensate for the loss of rank pay vis-à-vis the equivalent civilian officers. As they were earlier drawing Total Pay equal to S-25 and more than S-24. Now both S-24 and S-25 will be drawing a hell of a lot more.

7. Actually the problem has been heavily accentuated due to the odd and arbitrary Pay Band system which replaces the Pay Scale system. At each grade pay level, an entry basic pay level has been specified. Which in effect makes it practically quite like the old pay scale system. But what makes the system very strange is that at some 'very-very arbitrary' points you get into a super pay scale now called Pay Band. Now there is huge and sudden pay gain on certain promotions whereas relatively smaller increase on most of the other promotions. The very big arbitrary pay jump happens to lie between S-23 and S-24. Somewhere around Rs 15000! I really don't know the merits of this new system? Is this as a result of some scientific study in the HR field or an accident which is going to be justified with hindsight and reverse engineered pseudo-logic?

Lt Col Sumeet Patney (Retd)
Navy chief raises pay panel report anomaly with Antony

Comment: This anomaly will surely exist in spite of the Anamoly Commission trying its best to debug! After all Bureaucrats are Buzzing Mathematical Bees! Thanks also to the Army Brass for degradation of rank status! Do ESM stand a chance to fight for the injustices meted out by succeeding Pay Panels?