A SYSTEM VIRTUALLY GOT RUSTED IN A PLACE - TODAY IN DEFENCE MINISTRY-- SAYS RAKSHA MANTRI

Speaking about the various issues and challenges faced by his ministry, he (the RM) was quoted as saying
   "Nothing happens overnight. A system which has virtually got rusted in a place. 

Today in Defence Ministry, things have rusted in place.....

I am coming out with some mechanism. Give me some more time. 

In the near future, we should be able to solve issues which are haunting through procedural mechanism. Some may still linger on. 

We can interact for further improvement. Nothing is perfect." 

How correct is his understanding of the system, especially in MOD.

We hope, he shall put in place workable mechanism wherein the matters pertaining to the Armed Forces are dealt quickly and in the right perspective.  Perhaps, the civil babus may have to be replaced with the Armed Forces Personnel or experts on defence matters at all important decision making levels. Sooner the better. 
  

(Source- Jottings blog)

LATEST ON OROP IMPLEMENTATION : MESSAGE FRPM SHRI THANESWARSEN, CHAIRMAN, NEXCC.

Shri Manohar Parikkar, Hon'ble Defence Minister, Govt of India, met representative of our organization (NEXCC) led by Shri V.N.Mishra, Secretary General (as Chairman is indisposed).

Where 20/25 minutes cordial discussion had in connection with implementation One Rank One Pension (OROP). He has assured our delegation, that by 1^st week of April, 2015, modalities will be finalized & 1^st payment will be made on 1^st week of May,2015.  Arrears will be paid in 4 equal installments.

Considering the deferred assurance given by the Hon’ble Defence Minister, available Central Committee Member in Delhi, decided to defer our agitational programe on 6^th& 7^th April, 2015. It is further to intimate that Central Executive Committee to a later date.

The representative also brought to the knowledge of the Hon’ble Defence Minister about the ECHS meeting scheduled to be held on 05^th April, 2015,at New Delhi, also & Military Service Pay(MSP)anomalies, which he assured to look into.

(SOURCE- Posted IN EX-AIRMEN/SNCO-AIRFORCE at 3/21/2015 08:19:00 AM)

Arrears calculation post SC judgment and orders [2 Attachments]

Ravindra Pathak raviwarsha@gmail.com [IESM_Hyderabad]

[Attachment(s) from Ravindra Pathak included below]

Dear All

Pls find two XL sheets one for officers and other for                                                 JCO and below

Brgds

Pathak

Cdr Ravindra Waman Pathak I.N. (Retd)       

Member Governing Body and Pension Cell

Indian Ex Servicemen Movement

1 Surashri,1146 Lakaki Road
Shivajinagar 

Pune 411016
raviwarsha@gmail.com
9822329340 

The Indian Soldier who gives so much and asks for nothing but                                                         dignity and a little understanding from his Country men

A country that refuses to respect its armed forces will eventually end up getting forces that will not respect the nation

__._,_.___

Attachment(s) from Ravindra Pathak | View attachments on the web

2 of 2 File(s)

 Arrears Calculator wef 01.01.2006 to 23.09.2012 JCO and below.xls

 Arrears Calculator wef 01.01.2006 to 23.09.2012 Officers.xls

(Source- via e-mail from Cdr RW Pathak IN (Retd))

BONANZA FOR RETIRED ARMED FORCES’ PERSONNEL - SC: Pension can’t be less than 50% of pay

In a bonanza to retired employees of the armed forces, the Supreme Court today directed the Centre to pay at least 50 per cent of the pay as pension to all of them as recommended by the 6th Central Pay Commission (CPC).

A Bench headed by Justice TS Thakur passed the order while dismissing about 50 appeals filed by the Centre challenging the rulings of various high courts and armed forces tribunals (AFTs). The HCs and AFTs had struck down the office memorandums (OMs) assessing the pension amount at less than 50 per cent for some categories of pensioners.

Appearing for the Centre, Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand had pleaded that payment of pension at 50 per cent or more would place an additional burden of Rs 1,500 crore. But the Bench said the pensioners were entitled to the CPC recommendations which had been accepted by the government.

They could not be denied of their dues just because some officials, who did not even have the authority to issue the OMs, had misinterpreted the recommendations, the Bench explained.

“We have already affirmed the orders of the HCs and AFTs” in a couple of cases earlier and there was no need for the Centre to come to the SC in each and every such case, the Bench said.

Today’s order should be implemented within four months extending the benefit to all those who were entitled to pension, irrespective of the fact whether they had gone to the AFT/court or not, the Bench clarified.

In one such case, the Delhi High Court had delivered its verdict on April 29, 2013, directing the Centre to ensure that pension was re-fixed at not lower than 50 per cent of the minimum of the pay in the band and the grade pay thereon. Arrears should be paid within two months and any delay would entail 9 per cent interest, it had ruled while dismissing a batch of Centre’s petitions. The HC had said it was in complete agreement with the reasoning of the Punjab and Haryana HC in similar cases.

 

(Source- The Tribune)

Pay arrears of pension to all Pre-2006 retiree Central Govt pensioners from 01 January 2006 rather than 24 September 2012 : Supreme Court

As most readers would know, there were anomalies in the fixation of pension of pre-2006 central govt retirees with effect from 01 Jan 2006 and the question was whether pension was to be calculated based on the minimum of each grade/rank within the newly introduced pay-bands or on the minimum of the pay-band itself. The said anomaly was resolved by way of judgements of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) as well as Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) which inter alia ruled that pension would be calculated on the basis of minima of each rank/grade within the pay-band. The judgement of the CAT was challenged by the Govt before the Delhi High Court. In the meantime however, the Govt itself removed the anomaly but granted the benefits from 24 Sept 2012 rather than 01 Jan 2006 which was the date of the inception of the anomaly.

Hence the exact controversy now stood narrowed down to whether the benefits of the correct pension were to flow from 01 Jan 2006 which was the date from which the 6th Central Pay Commission recommendations were implemented or from 24 Sept 2012 which was when the Govt had decided to remove the anomalies in the pension structure after the said Pay Commission.

The controversy was finally resolved by the Delhi High Court which directed that after removal of the anomaly, the pension arrears were to flow from 01 Jan 2006 and not from the future artificial date of 24 Sep 2012. Never to respect well-rounded judicial verdicts, the Govt challenged the decision of the High Court before the Supreme Court, however the Supreme Court was pleased to dismiss the SLP filed by the Govt in July 2013.The Govt then filed a review petition followed by a curative petition alleging ‘gross miscarriage of justice’ but a 5 Judge Bench dismissed the curative petition too.

The Govt however did not implement the decision across the board and kept filing SLPs and Civil Appeals across the board against decisions of judicial fora in favour of pensioners.

Ultimately, all these cases were clubbed together and were finally heard today by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court has today dismissed all appeals filed by the Union of India and upheld the decision of grant of arrears with effect from 01 January 2006 rather than 24 September 2012.

Another closure to another agony. 

The amount of basic pension which was made admissible from 24 September 2012 for each rank can be discerned from this Circular issued by the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions). The said amount plus applicable DA/DR would now be admissible from 01 January 2006. 

OROP final nod likely by April-end: Army Chief

Army Chief Dalbir Suhag interacts with an ex-serviceman during Veer Senani Rally in Jhajjar on Saturday. Photo: Sumit Tharan                                                               Plans announced by General Suhag

A biometric identity card forex-servicemen for all purposes

Mobile canteen and mobile dispensaries

Army school at Matanhelvillage in Jhajjar

A special unit for veteran armymen

Enhancement in number of Army medical hospitals

War memorial and museum at India Gate in Delhi

Army Chief  General Dalbir Singh Suhag has said that ex-servicemen need not worry about the ‘one rank-one pension’ scheme as they would be able to get its benefit with arrears from April 1, 2014. The process to implement the scheme was on and was likely to be completed by the end of April, he said.

General Suhag was addressing a gathering during the ‘Veer Senani Rally’ organised by the Army at the Police Lines ground in Jhajjar today. 

It was General Suhag’s first visit to his native place after assuming charge over seven months ago. He belongs to Bisaan village in Jhajjar district. He was accompanied by his wife Namita Suhag.

“I admit the delay in the execution of the one rank-one pension scheme but there were many technicalities that needed to be resolved before taking a final call on it. I am in touch with the Union Minister for Defence over the issue, who has recently dispatched the file to the finance department for the final nod,” said the Army Chief. He said that the matter would be placed in the meeting of the finance department scheduled next week.

“The scheme is likely to get the final approval by next month, but ex-servicemen need not worry if it takes more time. The delay will not cause any loss to them as the scheme will be executed from April 1, 2014 and the beneficiaries will be able to get arrears from that date," he said.

General Suhag said the Indian Army was being equipped with ultramodern weapons and ammunition. An amount of Rs 15,750 crore had been approved for buying artillery guns and Rs 3,500 crore would be spent to purchase other equipment. Later, he interacted with ex-servicemen and assured them of redressing their grievances.

(Source- Ravinder Saini, Tribune News Service, Jhajjar, March 14)

One Rank One Pension to be approved by April end: Army Chief

last Updated: Saturday, March 14, 2015 - 18:09

Jhajjar: Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag on Saturday said that the long-standing demand of Armed Forces veterans' for One Rank One Pension (OROP) will be approved by April end. The file on the OROP is currently being studied by the Finance wing of the Defence Ministry after which it would be sent to the Finance Ministry for final approval. The government has already made it clear that the OROP will be implemented with effect from April 1, 2014.

Addressing a rally of around 17,000 ex-servicemen here, the Army Chief said, "The OROP will come out in the same principle as desired. It will be effective from April 1, 2014 and may be approved latest by April 30 this year. However, delay does not matter as arrears will be given."

The OROP scheme, which seeks to ensure that a uniform pension is paid to defence personnel who retire at the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement, has been a long-standing demand of the over two million ex-servicemen in the country. In view of the hardships faced by the soldiers while discharging their duties, Gen Singh has sought a hike in their pay and allowances from the Prime Minister, a defence statement said.

Singh said that the army has tied up with the Skilled Development ministry for ensuring employment to the Army retirees in public and private sectors, it said. However, the Army Chief ruled out the possibilities of exempting the veterans from income tax as it would be a violation of the principal of parity, the statement added.

A number of grievance resolution stalls were set up to process on-the-spot redressal of grievances pertaining to pension, preparation of ECHS cards and CSD cards, it said. A medical camp was also organised in which specialists from various discipline of medicine attended the needy patients.

Besides, 26 modified scooters and six wheel chairs were given to the eligible ex-servicemen, the statement added. 

(Source-PTI)