Dehra Dun IESL ...News ..By Brig KG Behl

From: krishangopal behl [mailto:kgbehl@hotmail.com]
Sent: 13 November 2009 23:25
To: Kamboj Chander
Subject: How to solve 'one rank one pension' tangle

Dear Chander,
You are doing a yeoman service in awakening Ex Servicemen about their rights and how they are being denied their due under one or the other excuse. When we point out the vast variations between the emoluments the Defence and civil, we are told not to compare the two but demand whatever is required for Defence Forces. But when we demand some thing they immediately compare with civilian counterparts and apply that to civil before even letting it applied to Defence. The latest example is the new scale introduced for Lt Generals, which the committee of Secretaries promptly sanctioned for the civilian counterparts. Here the benefit in Defence will go to only 0.01%, who reach that scale, where as it will benefit practically all their counterparts in civil as all reach that scale. Similarly there are many such instances where in the wake of giving benefits to a marginal percentage of Defence Forces more benefits have accrued for civil. Even the cases where the 5th CPC specifically endorsed that those benefits will be given to Defence Forces have been denied. The Rank Pay which 4th CPC granted, over and above the normal Pay, was denied by deducting that from the Basic Pay so that Defence Personnel do no draw more than their civilian counterparts. In the process how much damage has been done probably they did not realize as by reducing basic pay they lowered the status, the scale and denied all the allowances which are worked on that. The 6th CPC who worked on that lower data supplied by MOD granted every thing less to Defence Forces, which Govt. had to revise on protest from different platforms and in the process damaged the very structure of the Defence Forces which affects the command and control. . Though the Finance Minister announced in the Parliament that he is going to redress the long outstanding demand by the Defence services for OROP, what has been recommended in the Cabinet Secretary's Report falls grossly short of ONE RANK ONE PENSION. There is a large gap between pre 1 Jan 06 retirees and post 1 Jan 06 retirees. A pre 1 Jan 06 Sepoy will get only Rs 5461.00 versus Rs 7045.00 by post 1 Jan 06 retiree with 50 percent weightage. In fact, a pre 1 Jan 2006 Hav will be getting less pension than a Jawan, who retires post 1 Jan 2006.

Some thing has to be done to restore the old order. Since it has been done in bits and pieces, without consideration as to how it will affect other parts, it is creating more problems. It will be in fitness of things if the Govt. appoints a Commission, purely of Defence Forces, to look into the complete matter in totality and make recommendations to sort out problems, financial as well as administrative. Since the Defence Forces run on Rank basis alone it is difficult to digest that a senior person should draw less pension than his junior.

There is a tradition in Defence Forces that they respect their seniors and they always draw more Pay/Pension than their juniors. It was being followed till 3rd CPC when all used to retire at the maximum of the scale. The only problem was of 30 years of service required for drawing full pension and weightage given in some categories was not enough, which has now been made up. The 4th CPC brought changes when they introduced Integrated Pay scale for officers who were supposed to reach maximum of the scale at the time of retirement but it was not implemented as formulated and was restricted up to certain ranks alone and the whole purpose was defeated. The 4th CPC introduced Rank Pay which was in addition to the normal pay for peculiar service conditions. But some mischief mongers denied this additional pay too, by deducting equivalent amount from the Basic Pay of all officers without notice so that Defence Officers do not get more pay than their civilian counterparts and lose many other benefits.

Now that sufficient weightage has been given to bring service to 30 years, which actually should have been 33 years . Any how, if we follow 5th CPC recommendations it automatically becomes 33 years as per weightage given by them. If we bring the maximum of Pay scale, as introduced by 3rd CPC with it, it automatically becomes ‘one rank one pension’.

Though all of us are asking for ‘One Rank One Pension’ but no one has suggested any concrete proposals or suggestions as to how to tide over the situation. A committee constituted under the able guidance of Col K.L.Dewan, a well known expert on pension matters, comprising of Brig K.G.Behl and Cdr Sanjiv Dewan has worked out a formula which fits in well for all ranks to work our pension which is exactly as recommended by the 6th CPC in their report which has been accepted by the Govt. It is based on one rank one pension taking into consideration the rank from which the individual retired and the number of years one held that rank. 50% of the present corresponding Pay in the new revised scale/grade becomes pension.

It covers all the doubts expressed by members in their E-Mails and also the point raised otherwise by individuals. If taken in totality the Govt. can manage within the sanctioned budget, keeping in mind the funds they are likely to spend on implementation of pending Court cases. It has to be give and take and sort out this long outstanding problem once for all

A demo can be given to the Defence Minister and his team of officials once they make up their mind that one rank one pension has to be implemented as desired by the President of India in her address to the Parliament on 4th June 2009.

With warm regards,
y.s.
Brig K.G.Behl veteran
President Dehradun Ex-ServicemanLeague
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