Non-Functional Upgradation - The Truth obtained through requests under RTI Act, 2005

First Reply

RTI Matter

Immediate

No. 35 (11)/2013/D (Pay/Services)

Government of India

Ministry of Defence

                                      New Delhi, the 8^th October, 2013

To,

 ----------------------------

          Subject: Information sought under RTI Act 2005 – Non Functional Upgradation

 Sir,

        
           This is with reference to your application dated 4.9.2013 (received on 17.9.2013) and dated 23.9.2013 (recd on 27.9.2013) and two applications sent via internet dated 8.9.2013 received from D (RTI) section vide MoD ID No. MODEF/R/2013/(^0351/60352)/D (RTI) dated 11.9.2013 on the above subject.

2.     The issue of Non Functional Upgradation to personnel of the Armed Forces was one of the five issues relating to service personnel which were considered by the Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary. The Committee submitted its Report to the Prime Minister. It is stated that the recommendations on pay related issues of the report of the Committee have been further examined in Ministry of Defence and it has been still decided to wait(emphasis supplied). 

3.      If you are not satisfied with the information provided you may write to the Appellate Authority, Shri Praveen Kumar, Director (AG-I), Ministry of Defence, Room No. 102, Sena Bhavan, New Delhi within 30 days.  

  Yours faithfully,

Sd/-----------------------

(P. S. Walia)

Under Secretary & CPIO

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Second Reply

RTI MATTER

No. 35 (11)/2013/D(Pay/Services)

Government of India

Ministry of Defence

New Delhi, the 27^th December, 2013

  To

 ---------------------------

 Subject: Seeking Information under RTI Act – 2005

 Sir,

          Reference is invited to MoD ID No. MODEF/R/2013/(61057)/D(RTI) dated 10.12.2013 (received in this Section on 12.12.2013) and forwarding your application dated 9.12.2013 on the above subject.

 2.     The issue on Non Function Upgradation was one of the issues considered by the Cabinet Secretary Committee. It is informed that decision on the recommendations of Cabinet Secretary Committee Report on the issues related to serving defence personnel is yet to be taken by the Government (emphasis supplied). Hence, the information sought vide above referred applicant cannot be shared at this stage by this Ministry under Section 8 (1) (i) of RTI Act, 2005.

 3.     The Appellate Authority is Shri Praveen Kumar, Director (AG-I), Ministry of Defence, Room No. 103, Sena Bhavan, New Delhi.

 Sd/---------------------

(P. S. Walia)

Under Secretary & CPIO

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 Third Reply 

    

Reply dated 8^th Sep 2014 received on 15^th Sep 2014

No. 35 (1)/2013/D (Pay/Services)

Government of India

Ministry of Defence

New Delhi, the 8^th September, 2014

To

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          Subject: Seeking information under RTI Act, 2005

Sir,

          Reference is invited to MoD ID No. MODEF/R/2014/61542 dated 28.8.2014 forwarding your application dated 26.8.2014 received in this section on 1.9.2014 on the above subject.

2.       The issue of Non-Functional Upgradation to Armed Forces officers was one of the issues considered by the Cabinet Secretary Committee. The Committee recommended that pay related issues may be specifically referred to the next pay commission for its consideration as the Pay Commission is the expert body set up for this purpose which can examine these issues in a holistic manner (emphasis supplied). Government has accepted these recommendations. Accordingly, Services have been requested to take further necessary action. MoD has also referred the pay related issues to 7^th CPC. In this connection, copies of MoD letters No. 22 (4)/2012-D (Pay/Services) dated 4^th July 2014 and 25^thAugust 2014 are enclosed.  

3.       The Appellate Authority is Shri Pradeep Kumar, Director (AG-I), Ministry of Defence, Room No. 102, Sena Bhavan, New Delhi.

sd/--------------

                                                                                08.09.14

(V. N. Raveendran)

                                                                                          Under Secretary & CPIO

Encl: as above

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Most Immediate

Government of India

Ministry of Defence

          Subject: Decision on the recommendations of Cabinet Secretary Committee on pay related issues of Defence Services Personnel

        
          On the directions of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, a Committee under the chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary to look into certain pay and pension issues of serving and retired Defence Services Personnel was set up by the Cabinet Secretariat in July 2012. The Committee was serviced by D/o Expenditure. The issues placed before the Committee were as under: -

        
  (i)       Defence Services Personnel

                    (a)      Common pay scales for in-service JCOs/ORs

                    (b)      Initial pay fixation of Lt Col/Col and Brig               /equivalent

                    (c)      Review and enhancement of Grade Pay

                    (d)      Placing of all Lt Gens in HAG+ scale, and

  (e)  Grant of Non-Functional Upgradation (NFU) to Armed Forces personnel

  (ii)      Ex-servicemen

  
                  (a)      One Rank One Pension

                  (b)      Enhancement of Family Pension

                  (c)      Dual Family Pension

 (d)  Family pension to mentally/physically challenged children of Armed Forces personnel on marriage.                                

2.       The Committee submitted its report in August 2012. A copy of the Report is enclosed herewith. All the recommendations of the Committee related to Ex-servicemen have been implemented by issue of eight Government letters on 17.1.2013.

3.       Regarding the issues related to serving Defence Personnel, the Committee vide Para 39 of its Report noted that

“the pay related issues are complex and have ramifications across the Government including on para-military personnel. The proposals made by Defence Forces in many cases are at variance with some principles followed by the Sixth Pay Commission” (emphasis supplied).

Further, vide Para 41 of its Report, the Committee recommended that

          “In the circumstances, the Committee recommends that the pay related issues may be specifically referred to the next Pay Commission for its consideration as the Pay Commission is the expert body set up for this purpose which can examine these issues in a holistic manner” (emphasis supplied).

4.              The Government has accepted the above recommendations of the Committee on pay related issues. Accordingly, the above five issues related to serving defence personnel are referred to 7^th CPC for its consideration. 

Sd/-------------------

25.08.14

(Pradeep Kumar)

Director (AG-I)

2301 4036

Secretary, 7^th Central Pay Commission, Post Box No. 4599, Hauz Khas PO, New Delhi – 110 016

MoD ID No. 22(4)/2012-D(Pay/Services) dated 25^th August 2014

Encl: as above

Copy to: -

1.       Ministry of Finance (Deptt of Expenditure)

2.       Cabinet Secretariat

3.       Prime Minister’s Office

4.       AFPCC

5.       D (PCC) MoD

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Most Immediate

Government of India

Ministry of Defence

No. 22(4)/2012-D(Pa/Services)                                                    New Delhi, 04^th July 2014

Office Memorandum

          Subject:      Decision on the recommendations of Cabinet Secretary Committee on pay related issues of Defence Services Personnel

          The undersigned is directed to say that on the directions of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, a Committee under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary to look into certain pay and pension related issues of serving and retired Defence Services Personnel was set up by the Cabinet Secretariat in July 2012. The issues placed before the Committee were as under:  

           (i)       Defence Services Personnel

                    (a)      Common pay scales for in-service JCOs/ORs

                    (b)      Initial pay fixation of Lt Col/Col and Brig/equivalent

                    (c)      Review and enhancement of Grade Pay

                    (d)      Placing of all Lt Gens in HAG+ scale, and

                    (e)      Grant of Non-Functional Upgradation (NFU) to Armed Forces personnel

          (ii)      Ex-servicemen

                    (a)      One Rank One Pension

                    (b)      Enhancement of Family Pension

                    (c)      Dual Family Pension

                     (d)      Family pension to mentally/physically challenged children of Armed Forces personnel   
                     on marriage

2.       The Committee submitted its report in August 2012. All the recommendations of the Cabinet Secretary Committee related to Ex-servicemen have already been implemented.

3.       In respect of issues related to serving Service Personnel, the Committee vide Para 39 of its Report noted that

“the pay related issues are complex and have ramifications across the Government including on para-military personnel. The proposals made by Defence Forces in many cases are at variance with some principles followed by the Sixth Pay Commission.”

Vide Para 41 of its Report, the Committee recommended that

          “In the circumstances, the Committee recommends that the pay related issues may be specifically referred to the next Pay Commission for its consideration as the Pay Commission is the expert body set up for this purpose which can examine these issues in a holistic manner.”

4.       Government has accepted the above recommendations of the Cabinet Secretary Committee on pay related issues.

Sd/-------------------

(Pradeep Kumar)

Director (AG-I)

2301 4036

Prime Minister’s Office

(w.r.t. their communication No. 270/3/3/2009.E.S.I Vol.5 dated 25.7.2013) 

Cabinet Secretariat

(w.r.t. their communication No. 213/2/3/2012 CA.IV dated 16.7.2013)

Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure)

(w.r.t. their communication No. 94473/14/E.III(A) dated 30.6.2014

Copy to: - Director, TRIPAS for taking further necessary action in the matter. A copy of the Report of the Committee is also enclosed.

Sd/-------------------

(Pradeep Kumar)

Director (AG-I)

2301 4036

Sd/------4/7/14

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