VISIT TO NAVY RELEASE CENTER By Cdr pathak and Gp capt phatak

From: Ravindra Pathak
Date: 29 March 2010 20:33
Subject: VISIT TO NAVY RELEASE CENTER
To:


Dear Sir

Today Gr Capt Phatak and self visited Navy Release Center and were able get 18 of the 22 sailors being released end this month.

More importantly we were able to discuss pension problems with Cmde Kulkarni and his concerned staff.

The following points came up
State Bank and PCDA asking for bribes for releasing dues of pensioners.Many complaints have been received by CABS in writing and have been forwarded to NHQ.There is no known action so far.
We have made a suggestion that Navy approach a bank with good all India print and negotiate with it for concessions and special handling if Navy were to give all pension accounts to that bank.This has found favour with Cmde Kulkarni and need to be followed up.
We were approached by a Dec 2009 retiree as he had not received his pension so far and tha banks were stating that they have not received the PPO.We were able to give him the details of the Branch which had received the PPO on 13 Jan.It appears again a case of asking for money to progress the matter.Cmde Kulkarni has taken up the matter with NHQ and has proposed that cheques for major amount of gratuity and commutation be allowed to be paid by CABS on the last date.With this it is hoped that no monety will be demanded for a small sum of pension due to the sailor.We need to push NHQ on this
We were surprised that the CABS had already implemented our suggestion of having Childrens details on the Discharge book and the present retirees were to get the amended Discharge book.
We also discussed about the changes required in the documents given to officers and were surprised taht our suggestions were easily accepted and in fact Cmde is trying to get one of his excellent officers to go to DPA to take up the matter of streamlining the procedures for officers.Understand this officer is waiting for the move for last 3 months.May be VAdm Ghose could use his contact with CNS to get Cdr DP Singh posted to DPA. He is bang on in line with us and is a very able officer who has done wonders for Release Center.
We were also able to get the enclosed documents copies (Not attached )
Cdr Ravindra Waman Pathak I.N.(Retd)
Member and Coordinator IESM Pension Cell
(Mobile 919822329340)
1 Surashri, 1146 Lakaki Road, Shivajinagar, Pune 411016
Tel 91 20 25655792
Alternate email:raviwarsha@hotmail.com
Military Veterans visit www.iesm.org
----------
From: Ravindra Pathak
Sent: 29 March 2010 22:51
Subject: VISIT TO NAVY RELEASE CENTER


Dear Sir

Further to my earlier mail.

Pls read in continuation
It was learnt from the interaction with sailors that PCDA Allahabad is working on a Agent system and they do not do work unless one goes through the agents.
We handed over the enclosed document to Cmde for inclusion of points in his briefs to senior officers so that we may be able to create a ground swell of change from within the service
CABS has over 400 cases pending with PCDA Allahabd and the office is trying to get them sorted out through gifts etc.
We are off tmrw to Jath for a meeting accompanying us Col Bhagatsingh Deshmukh a native of that Village and the former director Rajya Sainik Board.

Brgds

Ravi
Cdr Ravindra Waman Pathak I.N.(Retd)
Member and Coordinator IESM Pension Cell
(Mobile 919822329340)
1 Surashri, 1146 Lakaki Road, Shivajinagar, Pune 411016
Tel 91 20 25655792
Alternate email:raviwarsha@hotmail.com
Military Veterans visit www.iesm.org

Report of IESM Rally at Rasara

The Indian Ex Servicemen MOVEMENT RALLY held at Rasara Distt Ballia was a successful rally. The rally was attended by over 2000 and above veterans . The rally was presided by the president IESM Lt Gen Raj Kadian PVSM,AVSM and VSM. Apart from the Ex Servicemen the War Widows were about 300. The widows were honoured by Our National Chairman by presenting a Shawl to every one. The anomalies of the recent announcement by the Union Govt was condemned by every one. The veterans attending the rally supported by joining as a member of our IESM. National Chairman was honoured by Capt Tej Bahadur Singh with a Shawl and walking stick.

I also praise the efforts taken by Ballia Convener Fl Lt RC Singh, President Distt Ballia and Gen Secy JN PANDEY and Convening Body member Hony Capt Kameshwar Pandey and Gen Secy PN Srivastava. Kanpur team was attended by Ex Havaldar JL Yadav; Vice President Kanpur Zone. Lastly I convey my special gratitude to Capt Tez Bahdur Singh, President IESM Rasara District Ballia who convened this rally and provided all the logistics support including breakfast and lunch to all veterans.
My special thanks NK Anil Kumar Pathak who worked for the success of this rally day and night. KEEP IT UP and enlarge the IESM membership drive.
Capt SN Sharma (Retd)

BOLD STEPS...Col CJS Khera (Retd)

From: Exservicemen Joint Action Front Sanjha Morcha
To: iaf_jagdip@yahoo.co.in
Sent: Sun, March 28, 2010 1:16:45 AM
Subject: BOLD STEPS.


Dear All,
Today we are fighting for OROP, but have we shown concern to women Officers also, well not the least. The Article is self explanatory. Women can not be used in Army for Fill in the Blanks. They also deserve Pension after 20 years. Let the Short Service Commission be limited to pensionable mandatory period of min 20 years instead of 10-14 years.. The women too spent their Prime Youth with the forces serving with brother officers, then they are equally entitled for retirement benefits and appropriately placed in allied services or corporate sector after completing their contractual period. Why they should leave short of 4-6 years of completing Pensionable service
Col CJS Khera (Retd)
Gen Secy
Sanjha Morcha

Beyond narrow boundaries By Gen VP Malik (Retd)

The Tribune
ON LINE EDITION
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100328/edit.htm#1
Sunday, March 28, 2010, Chandigarh, India
A Tribune Special
Beyond narrow boundaries

We must change our mindset to meet new security challenges, says Gen V.P. Malik (retd)
ONE of the cornerstones of a democracy is a healthy civil military relationship. India stands out as the greatest success story in civil military relations amongst developing nations of the world. The nation and its military are rightfully proud of it.
However, should the discourse on civil military relations remain confined to the facts that in our country there have never been open criticism of the government’s policies on military affairs, never any combat refusal, or anything like a threat of military takeover? Unfortunately, most of our experts and the media are content to focus on the presence or absence of civilian control, politicisation, military discontent and discipline as the only considerations worthy of attention. Little attention is paid to the dynamics of politico-military strategies and civil military discourse on military capabilities and doctrines for any future conflicts.
In his seminal book, The Soldier and the State, Samuel Huntington states that “the objective of military security policy of a nation is to develop a system of civil military relations which will maximise military security at the least sacrifice of other social values.” Is India getting maximum value from its civil military relations and discourse?
Indeed, India’s defense and security report card for the past six decades plus has been more positive than negative. Despite a weak strategic culture, reactive strategic policies, ad hoc defense planning, intelligence failures and strategic surprises, the armed forces have maintained India’s security and territorial integrity better than any other democratic, developing nation in the world.
However, the credit for these successes goes less to any strategic foresight or higher direction of war and more to personnel involved in operational planning and fighting on the ground. In most conflicts, India has failed to convert hard-won operational achievements into long-term strategic successes.
The 21st century has ushered in a new era in security and the nature of conflict and warfare. While conventional war as an instrument of foreign policy has become increasingly unviable due to high costs, casualties and international pressures, limited, asymmetric and sub-conventional conflicts have become more likely. And when they occur, it is not possible to take them to the logical conclusion of military victories as was the case in the past. They have to be conducted with the objective of achieving political successes rather than military victories.
The USA and its allies could not achieve victory in Iraq, Kosovo or Afghanistan. In Kargil war, too, the political aim and terms of reference prevented the Indian military from crossing the Line of Control and escalating the conflict.
With such a paradigm shift in the nature of conflicts, the military has to be prepared for an elongated spectrum, ranging from aid to civil authority, counter-terrorism, different levels of conventional war, to a war involving weapons of mass destruction. In this environment, the separation between tactical, operational and strategic levels of warfare stands blurred.
Greater mobility, long reach in targeting and more effective communications and control have obscured tactical and strategic boundaries. A small military action along the Line of Control or a terrorists’ act in the hinterland become issues for consideration and decision making at the highest political level.
In such a war or war-like situation, selection of political and military objectives and time available to execute missions becomes crucial for planning and conduct of operations. There has to be complete understanding between the political and military leadership on these issues.
Careful and calibrated orchestration of military operations, diplomacy and domestic political environment become essential for the successful outcome. Continuous control of the “escalatory ladder” requires close political oversight and politico- civil- military interaction. Some important challenges likely to be encountered in a future conflict would be:
· Political definition of the goals and its translation into military objectives. This is always difficult, sometimes uncertain and indirect. Yet its success is critical for the attainment of the political goals.
· Ability to react rapidly to a developing or a surprise crisis. The military would be expected to react quickly: enhance deterrence, arrest deterioration of the situation, diminish adversary’s incentives for escalation, and/or to carry out a riposte.
· Mobilising and sustaining domestic and internationally political support for such military operations would depend upon the ability of the military to operate in a manner that conforms to political legitimacy, i.e. avoid civilian casualties and minimise collateral damage.
· Militarily, the greatest challenge would be the political reluctance to commit a pro-active engagement and its insistence to retain the authority for approving not just key military moves but also many operational decisions.
· Political requirements and military targeting would need a heavy reliance on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance for target selection. Airpower, precision guided weapons, standoff armaments, and artillery would be first weapons of choice.
· Employment of ground forces across the borders may be discouraged or delayed.
· Owing to growing transparency of the battlefield, information strategy and its implementation would be important. Political requirements of the military operations to achieve and retain the moral high ground and deny that to the adversary would need a comprehensive and sophisticated media, public affairs and information campaign.
This then leads this writer to ask, is India getting the required advice from our military? Do we have the right national security system and processes for this purpose?
Every nation requires strategically sound — not just militarily effective — advice to political authorities who are representative of and answerable to Parliament and a vibrant civil society.
The general impression in India and abroad is that our military leaders are not in a position to provide such advice to the political leadership. Such an impression appears valid when we ask ourselves:
· Does our military demonstrate critical and creative understanding of the strategic purposes, contributions and consequences of military operational employment and institutional conduct? Does it demonstrate a willingness to speak up, and when necessary speak out, especially in opposition to strategically flawed policies and initiatives? The military brass has a duty not only to the political masters but also to the Constitution and the men that they command.
· Do our civilian authorities demonstrate critical understanding of larger strategic issues, constraints, effects and implications of military operational employment and its institutional conduct? Are they fully conversant with military purposes, capabilities, constraints and effects?
· Are the civilian authorities who oversee the military adequately competent strategically? Do we have the correct political supremacy and oversight of the military or is it very substantially through a bureaucratic proxy? Encouraging a timid military may be good for the civilian ego. But equally, that makes for poor strategic sense.
War, Clausewitz noted, is continuation of politics by other means. Recent wars have involved much greater level of integration of politics, diplomacy and military planning and execution than in the past. Even when a decision to employ the military is made, the political leadership seldom allows autonomous conduct of the war to the military. In practice, there is continuing erosion of the dividing lines between war and politics.
India’s national security framework and its antiquated civil–military relationship have not grown in step with the needs of new security challenges. It is essential that we change our mindsets and attitudes and look beyond narrow boundaries defined by turf and parochialism. For that, we need urgent changes in our security structure and procedures to make it more efficient, resilient, and speedily responsive.
The writer is a former Chief of Army Staff
----------

ANOTHER ESM FROM CANADA DEMONSTRATES HIS DEVOTION TO IESM - by Lt Col BM Thapa

Dear Wg Cdr Mohinder,
It is indeed great of you for your such dedicated devotion for IESM from such far distance. Salute you for your kindness, generosity and magnanimity. All World Wise Gaurab Sainani of IESM convey deep gratitude to you for your contribution of Rs 25000.00 for the IESM.


Many NRI veterans like Capt NC Sehgal, Gaurab Sainanai, Bengal Sappers settled in USA /Canada and others have always been pillar of strength for IESM who had been contributing in time to time for IESM. Our words are inadequate to express our thanks and gratitude for your such great help and futre feelings.


Your such great gesture gives immense BOOST to all other GAURAB SAINANI AND VEER NAREES of the World to support and contribute for I E S M for the better cause. In short span of time IESM has brought lot of progress and development in various fields of welfare for ESM in the country and war for the JUSTICE eg OROP etc against the Govt is still going on for which every ESM's support is very essential. Major credit goes to our great leaders like Lt Gen Raj Kadyan, Maj Gen Satbir Singh, Maj Gen Radhakrisnan, Brig C S Kamboj , Col S S Rajan Dai etc and their team members who are working day and night for the welfare of Gaurab Sainani and Veer Narees of the country.

Fondest regards.
Brij
(Lt Col B M Thapa, Gaurab Sainani)
Gen Secy, Dehradun Ex-Services League
Mob-0065-93960636

SALUTE TO LT GEN M S GOSAIN FOR MAGNANIMITY AND GENEROSITY--DOON VALLEY

Dear General Gosain sir,

Salute you for your kindness, generosity and magnanimity. All Gaurab Sainani of Uttarakhand, members of IESM and IESL convey deep gratitude to you and Madam Saroj for your contribution of Rs 25000.00 for the IESM. If I am not wrong, this is the one time highest contribution ever done by any one from Uttarakhand. You had always been pillar of strength for all ESM of Uttarakhand and always rendered dedicated service for the welfare of ESM as a President of Ex-Services League and other wise also for which words are inadequate to express our thanks and gratitude.

This gives immense BOOST to we all GAURAB SAINANI AND VEER NAREES of Uttarakhand to support and contribute for I E S M for the better cause. In short span of time IESM has brought lot of progress and development in various fields of welfare for ESM in the country and war for the JUSTICE eg OROP etc against the Govt is still going on for which every ESM's support is very essential.

Fondest regards.
Brij
(Lt Col B M Thapa, Gaurab Sainani)
Gen Secy, Dehradun Ex-Services League
Mob-0065-

Indigo....SPECIAL DISCOUNT SCHEME FOR ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL

From: SANTOKH BHATIA santokhsb@gmail.com
Sent: 26 March 2010 10:49
To: kamboj_cs@yahoo.co.in
Subject: SPECIAL DISCOUNT SCHEME FOR ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL (ELIGIBLE TRAVELER).

Respected Sir,
I had sent a mail to INDIGO on the subject discount scheme on INDIGO Flts.
I received a mail from them.You may like to put it on your blog for the info of environment.
Regards.
Veteran Bhatia
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: IndiGo Customer Relations
Date: 25 March 2010 13:21
Subject: FW: special discount scheme for armed forces personnel (eligible traveler).
To: "santokhsb@gmail.com"


Dear Mr. Bhatia
Thank you for your mail and suggestion.
With reference to your mail, I have personally forwarded your mail to the concerned department as a valuable suggestion for future review and enhancement.
Once again thank you for taking time to communicate with us, we look forward to serving you on-board.
For information on fares, reservation and schedule you can also contact our 24 x 7 call centre at 0 99 10 383838 or at 1800 180 3838 (Toll Free).
Best Regards
Abhinav Maharishi
Asst. Manager - Customer Relations
InterGlobe Aviation Limited ("IndiGo")
Tower C , 3rd Floor, Global Business Park
Mehrauli Gurgaon road
Gurgaon- 122002, Haryana
Phone :- +91 124 435 2500
Fax: 0124-4068536
Call Centre :- 09910 383838
Toll Free :- 1800 180 3838
IndiGo crowned as ‘Most Admired Travel Product of the Year 2009’ by SATTE at SATTE Achievers Awards.
--------
From: SANTOKH BHATIA [mailto:santokhsb@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 12:10 PM
To: Sanjay Kumar (Comm,GBP)
Subject: special discount scheme for armed forces personnel (eligible traveler).
Dear Mr Sanjay,
I have gone through your mail on the website of IESM.
I take this opportunity to thank INDIGO for the subject discount scheme. It surely is a welcome scheme but all may not be able to benefit as the rider of eligible traveler to be part of the traveling team may not be feasible for many families.

The serving personnel are not always with their families. In fact this discount would be more beneficial to them when the separated families wish to join the head of family during vacations.

The spouses and dependent children of all serving personnel are issued dependent cards and the spouses of all retired personnel are issued ECHS ( Ex-Servivemen's Contributory Health Scheme) cards with duly attested photos of dependents.

It may be noted that Spicejet is allowing the concession as suggested by me above.

I would therefore request you to consider this concession as an independent one to facilitate reunion of separated families .
Regards
Lt Col (Retd) S.S.Bhatia
--------
From: Rakesh Prasad Chaturvedi [mailto:rpchaturvedi@gmail.com]
Sent: 26 March 2010 07:49
Subject: Fwd:FRAUD in Air concession for Def incl retd by Airlines

Circulated in wider Veteran interest.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Dear All
Ref my earlier mail. All these people are fraud. Basic catch is that the officer has to travel himself, if the Armed Forces Concession is to be claimed. And read below what concession they are giving. I sent a mail to this gentleman from INDIGO and his reply is also given below.
Then I went to the Indigo site and tried to book a seat from Kolkatta to New Delhi on 18 Apr for my self. The charges which were being debited to my credit card with Defence Concession were as under:
Base Fare plus Airline Fuel - Rs 2600/-
Fees - Rs 229/-
Debited to my Credit Card Acct = Rs 2829/-
There is NO 100% Concession on base fare, they are making a fool of the Defence. Even if some one is showing they show Base fare DOUBLE and then reduce to half.
Because when I went to Yatra.com to book a seat the charges (incl agent commission) for GENERAL PUBLIC traveler for the same date same time are as under:
Spice Jet - Rs 2829/-
Indigo - Rs 2829/-
Jet Konnect- Rs 2832/-
Kingfisher - Rs 3052/-
I was told that Spice Jet also gives discount, so I tried there and this is what they wanted to Bill me
Base Fare plus Airline Fuel - Rs 2501/-
Fees - Rs 229/-
Defence Promo ( minus) - Rs 150/-
Debit to my Credit Card - Rs 2579/-
Please Circulate to all Serving and Retired Officers to make them aware of the FRAUD by Airlines.
Can some one send to Army/Navy /Air HQs the Mov people.

Thanks to Maj Suresh Dhawan

From: suresh dhawan sureshdhawan@hotmail.com
Sent: 26 March 2010 18:14
To: satbirsm@yahoo.com
Cc: prenjen@htmail.com; seekayess@gmail.com; kamboj_cs@yahoo.co.in
Subject:

Dear Sir ,

Am enclosing a scanned copy of the Life membership form duly filled. Details are as under,

(a) IC 33199M Maj(Retd) S Dhawan

(b) sureshdhawan@hotmail.com

Postal Address: Maj S Dhawan, B-205 Fifth Avenue, Sainikpuri, Secunderabad- 500094
Tele Nos 040 27114789, Mob 9246391991 & 9440187102

(c) Amt Rs 5000/-

(d) Hdfc Bank Chq No699793 Dt 26-03 2010

(e) Hdfc bank Kapra Sainikpuri


Please ack me the receipt and also the certificate to claim tax exemption.

With Regards

Maj S Dhawan

EXPRESSION OF GRATITUDE By Col SS Rajan

EXPRESSION OF GRATITUDE

The Military Veterans salute Veteran Lt Gen Harwant Singh, an intrepid crusader for Justice for the Soldier, for his incisive writing and hard hitting articles. Hope some sense prevails in the right quarters and the Govt. takes note of the Gerneral’s sane advise; and, if not the Govt, hope the three service Chiefs take note of this article and have the gumption to take up with the Govt. that it is indeed high time that justice is done both to the Soldiers and Veterans. Three Cheers to Gen Harwant Singh.

The Military Veterans also thank Veteran Cdr KK Punchi, a pillar of strength to Military Veterans and the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement, for posting articles of interest & importance to the Military Veterans.


Col SS Rajan

RAW DEAL FOR VETERANS..Tribune by Lt-Gen Harwant Singh (retd)

The Tribune
Chandigarh, Saturday, 27 March 2010
RAW DEAL FOR VETERANS
DEMYSTIFYING ONE RANK ONE PENSION
by Lt-Gen Harwant Singh (retd)
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100327/edit.htm#4

Veterans recently went to Rashtrapati Bhavan to return the sixth pack of medals to the President of India. But the President could not be there to receive the medals, so they came back disappointed. For a veteran, his medals are his most valued and cherished possession. These are heirlooms for their families.
Medals are earned under difficult conditions. Some by laying down life during war and in fighting insurgents, others for gallantry in the face of the enemy and yet some others for wounds suffered during operations. For veterans to part with their medals is an extreme step of desperation, caused by frustration and distress. Why have the veterans been driven to such a state of anguish!
Successive Central Pay Commissions (CPCs) repeatedly and viciously lowered the pay and status of defence personnel. To mention just two cases, DIG of police, whose pay and status was in between that of a Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel now stands equated with a Brigadier for pay etc. DIG rank comes after 14 years service while that of a Brigadier after 26-28 years. So absurd has been the dispensation that a Brigadier was given more pension than a Major-General. The Sixth Pay Commission introduced a dozen more anomalies.
The Fourth Pay Commission granted rank pay up to the rank of Brigadiers. Through sleight of hand, the Ministry of Defence deducted the amount of rank pay from the basic pay. Later, the Supreme Court has finally set it right. The Supreme Court had also noted, in an indirect manner, the untenability of granting different pensions to persons of the same rank, irrespective of their date of retirement.
The Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) at Chandigarh has drawn the government’s attention to the Supreme Court’s point and has given the Central Government four months to resolve the issue. Left to bureaucracy, nothing much can be expected. Therefore, the veterans decided to continue their struggle for One Rank One Pension (OROP).
Successive Presidents, Prime Ministers, Defence Ministers and the chairperson of the Congress party, at various times, accepted the grant of OROP. However, the bureaucracy has been frightening the political executive that giving OROP to the defence services will open a Pandora’s box. Every other government employee will ask for the same. This is patently false and mendacious contention.
In all, 83 per cent of defence services personnel retire between the ages of 34 and 37 years. Another 5 to 12 per cent retire at the ages between 44 and 52 years. Only 0.35 per cent retire at the age of 60. While all civil employees serve up to the age of 60 years, they step up to the top of their respective pay bands, get all the three Assured Career Progressions (ACPs) and consequently not only draw increasing pay but end up with much higher pension.
The 83 per cent of military personnel who retire at 34-37 age, that is after 17 years service, do not qualify for even the second ACP which comes into play only after 20 years service. Since some may not grasp the import of this gross injustice, more appropriately a mischief, spelling out the monetary position would be in order, but a little later.
Subsequent to the ham-handed dispensation of the Sixth Central Pay Commission which drew strong response from the defence services headquarters, the government appointed a Committee of Secretaries to go into these anomalies. In the Sixth Central Pay Commission, the villain of the piece was the IAS officer on this Commission.
Now when the Committee of Secretaries was constituted to address the anomalies, the same IAS officer also formed part of this committee. Thus, it became a case where the prosecutor also formed part of the jury! The committee endlessly dragged its feet and finally omitted OROP in its recommendations.
A comparison of the total amount drawn in terms of pay and pension by a soldier and pay by his counterpart in the civil by the time both reach the age of 60 years is Rs 33.3 lakh more for the civil servant; this figure at the age of 70 is Rs 42.670 lakh. At age 75, it is Rs 47.310 lakh. In the case of a Havaldar, his equivalent in the civil, at age 60, would get Rs 20.261 lakh more and this figure is Rs 26.639 lakh at age 70 and at 75 it is Rs 29.828 lakh. In the case of a Subedar, these figures at ages 60, 70 and 75 years are Rs 13.979 lakh, Rs 18.911 lakh and Rs 21.277 lakh respectively, more for the civil servant.
A soldier retiring at 35 years of age will live through at least four Central Pay Commissions and suffer their dispensations for retirees. Whereas his counterpart in the civil will not only continue to benefit from successive CPCs while still in service for an additional 25 years, but on retirement will be effected by just one CPC, assuming 70 years as the average age expectancy. Therefore, even if OROP is granted, defence personnel will continue to suffer these gross disadvantages.
Similar figures are available for officers. The disparities are due to early retirement, delayed and extremely limited promotions in higher ranks. All these features are service imperatives. Within the defence services, earlier retirees are further disadvantaged. A soldier who retired prior to January 1, 2006 will get far less pension than a soldier who retired after this date. For a Havaldar who retired prior to this date, his pension is less than a Sepoy who retired after this date.
The ad-hoc compensation promised to the other ranks is completely inadequate and fails to address the core issue of OROP. Similar situation prevails in the case of officers. Only one with severely impaired vision, limited intelligence and/or deep seated bias can miss the incongruity in this working.
The above disparities are independent of X factor which apply to only defence personnel. About 15 per cent of soldiers get the opportunity to live with their families for a period of one to two years in their entire service. In the case of others (including officers), only 40 to 50 per cent of their service, they live with their families. Then there are other travails of service such as harsh living conditions in uncongenial and high altitude areas which results in approximately 5000 of them being annually boarded out on medical grounds. Thousands live with ailments and continue to serve.
Then there is the curtailment on fundamental rights and harsh military law to contend with. Entry into the officer cadre has become the last career choice for the country’s youth. Consequently, huge shortages persist.
Few seem to realise the strong bonding that exists between the veterans and the serving. There is continued interaction between units and their retired personnel and that is how units sustain the regimental spirit and traditions.
During leave, the serving come in contact with the retired and the dissatisfaction of the later gets passed to the serving. Therefore, there is the danger of spill-over effect of this disenchantment and disgruntlement of the veterans passing on to the serving. It will indeed be a sad day for the country when this distress is fully transferred to the serving.
The demand for OROP is fair and just and is only a part-compensation for early retirement, extremely limited promotions and a miniscule recompense for a hard and risk filled career. The political executive ought to realise the injustice being done to the soldier and accept in good grace, what is fair and what is just.

Memorial By Ajai Shukla

The India Gate, in Delhi, a 1921 memorial to Indian soldiers killed in World War I, currently houses the Amar Jawan Jyoti, India's national war memorial



The Rezangla feature, which dominates the approach to Chushul, was defended to the end by 112 men of 13 Kumaon against a Chinese advance in 1962. This memorial to those brave men, led by Major Shaitan Singh, Param Vir Chakra, was built near Rezangla by 13 Kumaon.


by Ajai Shukla


Business Standard, 23rd March 2010



Amongst the many issues that scar relations between India’s military and its civilian overseers — pay scales and pensions; the failure to buy adequate weaponry; and the military’s marginalisation in framing security policy, to name a few — the most easily resolved is the military’s longstanding demand for a national war memorial to honour the 20,000 soldiers, sailors and airmen who have sacrificed their lives while defending independent India. A broad section of the urban public echoes this plea.

The demand is for a prominent memorial on New Delhi’s Central Vista, which can be visited freely by the Indian public, and where wreathes can be offered by national leaders on occasions like the Republic Day, and by visiting foreign dignitaries who choose to do so. The current memorial, the Amar Jawan Jyoti, is merely an add-on to the India Gate, an imposing 42-metre high British structure, built in 1921, to honour the 90,000 Indian soldiers who died in the First World War.

The irony is evident: the British exalted the memory of Indians who died for the empire; but India finds it bothersome to suitably commemorate those who fell in service of the republic.

Anyone who has travelled along India’s borders with China and Pakistan cannot have missed the lonely memorials at the places where Indian troops fought and died. Amongst the most stirring is the stark monument to Major Shaitan Singh and his 111 Kumaoni soldiers who battled to the last, holding up a major Chinese advance on the desolate, windswept plateau of Chushul. This Indian hero, a winner of the Param Vir Chakra, is honoured only in that unvisited war memorial near Chushul. No national memorial is inscribed with the name of Major Shaitan Singh.

The proposal for a “National War Memorial”, as I accidentally discovered in the Assam state archives in Guwahati, predates independent India. A confidential memo, issued on March 3, 1945, from the War Department in New Delhi (in File No. 110-C/45, entitled “Indian National War Memorial”, in the Governor’s Secretariat, Confidential Branch) declares that the Government of India (GoI) has been examining “the question of the form that an Indian National War Memorial should take”. The memo orders that “the establishment of a Military Academy on the lines of the United States Military Academy at West Point for the education and basic training together of future officers of the Royal Indian Navy, the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force would be the most suitable form for the memorial to take”.


In short, New Delhi proposed that what was to become the famous National Defence Academy (NDA), which is still the bedrock of Indian officer training, would also serve as India’s National War Memorial.


The British government of India further proposed that “funds for the academy would be provided by public subscription and supplemented by the state”. It urged all provincial governments (as state governments were then called) to support the scheme, establish scholarships, encourage the public to contribute, and to not set up any other war memorials so that the support of the public “may be concentrated on the all-India (war memorial)”.


Shortly afterwards, as the Second World War hurtled towards its denouement in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the War Department in New Delhi directed (vide memo No. F.65/45/W.1, dated June 15, 1945) that the construction of the academy be financed from a gift of 100,000 pounds, received from the Government of Sudan in gratitude for the Indian Army’s role in freeing Sudan from Italian occupation.


An Indian National War Memorial Working Committee was quickly constituted, which sent out a questionnaire to the provinces asking for their views on a range of subjects, including the setting up of feeder schools for the proposed academy-cum-war memorial. The questionnaire asked, keeping in mind the “urgent need in India for leaders in all walks of life, including the fighting services”, should “practical steps not be taken to meet the requirement of the immediate future by the establishment of a certain number of residential high schools”.


Today, 65 years later, the military community, especially officers from the NDA, will recognise that these proposals have been implemented in full. The Sudan Block, a magnificent basalt and granite structure, topped with a Jodhpur red sandstone dome, is the central edifice around which the academy stands. Generations of cadets, including this columnist, have dozed restfully through lectures in the Sudan Block’s cool classrooms. Many of those cadets entered the NDA from 19 Sainik Schools across the country, the network of “feeder schools” proposed in 1945.


Lost along the way, fortuitously, is the proposal for the NDA to constitute India’s National War Memorial. A training academy is a living organism that shapes the leaders of tomorrow; bursting with life, it is ill-suited to be a sombre memorial.


Today, with the government unwilling to concede the space for a memorial on New Delhi’s Central Vista, Karnataka MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar, has suggested a Vietnam Wall-style memorial, inscribed with the names of India’s fallen soldiers, on a 50-60 acre site alongside Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial at Rajghat. The design, which Chandrasekhar submitted to the prime minister last week, includes an eternal flame, a 24x7 ceremonial military guard, a memorial wall, a martyrs’ museum, and large, landscaped areas that would allow schoolchildren and other visitors a pleasant day at the memorial. If the army wants the country to know about and to remember its sacrifices, this is the way to do it.


__________________

Major woes by Maj CN Anand

From: C N Anand [mailto:cnanand@gmail.com]
Sent: 24 March 2010 06:08
To: colram40@yahoo.com; kamboj_cs@yahoo.co.in; ravigujral@hotmail.com; defence_brotherhood@yahoo.co.in; rajkadyan@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: Fw: [afvoachennai] Fwd: IMPORTANT EMAIL REGARDING MAJORS & EQUIVALENTS - "REPORT MY SIGNAL" - EMAIL 138/2010 - 23 MAR 2010 (H to Z)

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)
------------

Mail From Brig KG Behl, Dehra Dun

From: Kishan Gopal Behl [mailto:behl.kg@gmail.com]
Sent: 24 March 2010 07:48
To: Kamboj Chander
Cc: CSK551@DATAONE.IN
Subject: Re: IMPORTATNT EMAIL REGARDING MAJORS & EQUIVALENTS - "REPORT MY SIGNAL" - EMAIL 138/2010 - 23 MAR 2010 (A to G)

----
Supreme Court Judgment to restore Rank Pay dues, being denied to Defence Officers from 1.1.1986, is not a Bonanza but late Pay.
Brig K.G.Behl(Retd)
President Dehradun Ex-Services League.

The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in their Judgment has ordered to restore deductions made from Basic Pay of Defence officers equivalent to the Rank Pay and include Rank Pay as additional Pay from 1.1.1986 and revise all Pay/Pension calculations based on that. It is not a Financial Bonanza as being published in media but is restoration of dues being denied to them for such a long time. It cannot compensate the losses suffered by many in different fields due to these and especially by those who left us and their families. Though it a matter of happiness that the Hon’ble Supreme Court has up held justice long being denied but all the same it is sad that the culprits have been left unpunished and no strictures have even been passed against those who openly flouted the Court Judgments and did not follow the laid down Court rules and precedents.

When SLP was dismissed by the Supreme Court of India on Hon’ble Kerala High Court Judgment the MOD should have immediately implemented the orders for all affected rather than restricting those to only the appellant. as there was a Judgment of Hon’ble Supreme Court already available where the Court had delivered a judgment asking Govt. that the concerned departments should set right the similar mistakes as pointing out in a particular case without referring to the Court again. There are precedents where the MOD has rectified such mistakes on this basis and differences were either paid or recovered without reference to any court of law. In this case persons having similar cases should not have been made to go to courts and the MOD should have settled the cases accordingly at their own rather than delaying it for so many years. It has unnecessarily delayed matters and made many officers suffer especially those who have left us during this long period and family pensioners. Anyhow we hope that the refixing of Pay/Pension will be done fast and payment of arrears will be paid soon. We hope that this time the arrears will be worked out by the CDA concerned and final figure will be given to PDAs to pay rather than asking PDAs to work out arrears and pay which caused lot of confusion and delay as experienced earlier during payments of 6th CPC.

Very many people may not know that Rank Pay was introduced by the IV Central Pay Commission as Special Pay and was to be paid in addition to the substantive pay of the post/rank held. It was shown on the Pay Slip as Rank Pay paid but instead of giving additional pay, as sanctioned by the IV CPC, an equivalent amount was deducted from the substantive Pay, fixed for the Rank This amounted, to not only denying the officers the additional rank pay but lowering the Basic Pay, in comparison to their counter parts in civil, on which status, DA and other allowances are worked on. This Rank Pay became double under the 5th CPC award with 100% merger of DA but the increased portion was only paid as Rank Pay and the earlier deduction continued. The 6th CPC also made all calculations on the reduced Basic Pay and accordingly awarded lower status and Grade to Defence Officers in comparison with their civilian counterparts and there was a chaos and protests where Govt. had to revise Grade Pay but did not go into the root cause, which was less basic pay which needed to be restored. If you restore the basic pay some of the officers automatically will jump into next scale and get entitled to better scale and Grade, especially junior ranks. Thus to say that it has nothing to do with 6TH CPC is wrong. The Pay and Allowances/ Pension fixed by 6th CPC on the basis of reduced Basic Pay needs to be revised.

All officers who were serving on 1.1.1986 and where reduction in Basic Pay has been made, it has to be restored and arrears paid for the period the deductions continued, depending upon the rank held. The amount will vary as the rank goes up as deductions have been made as per rank held at that time. 50% of the deducted amount will be due from the date one retired. Officers of the rank of Maj Gen and above, who served as Col/ Brigadier during the period are eligible for arrears for that period they served in that rank after 1.1.1986.

It may not be correct to say that the officers who were commissioned/ retired post 1996 will not be affected as these facts were not brought to the notice of the 5th and 6th CPC and officers were paid at less Basic Pay and half of the Rank Pay due to them. The rank pay got doubled during 5th CPC, due to merger of 100% DA but only half was paid to officers and half continued to be deducted from basic pay e.g. the rank pay of a Capt. had become Rs.600/- during 5th CPC but they were paid Rs.300/- as Rank Pay and rest was deducted from basic pay. Since Rank Pay has to be included in the Pay while calculating an Officers Pay /Pension, wherever it has not been taken into consideration, either full or half, while working, the emoluments have to be recalculated and difference paid as arrears with 6% interest there on.

In a historic Judgment the Apex Court has held on 08.03.2010( T.P.(C) No. 56/2007 that the judgment dated 05.10.1998 of Kerala High Court P.P.No.2448/1996 and as confirmed by the Division Bench of the same High Court in W.A.No.518/1999(Appeal) is correct and benefit of this judgment be extended to all eligible officers of Armed Forces With 6% interest on the amount due.

Gist of Rank Pay Judgment of the Supreme Court of India

5. The matter was heard and finally disposed of by the Hon'ble Supreme court by the Bench of Hon'ble Mr. Justice Markendey Katju & Hon'ble Mr. Justice R.M. Lodha today i.e. 08.03.2010 (Court-7, Item-84). The Apex Court has held that the judgment dated 05.10.1998 of the Hon'ble Single Judge of Kerala High Court in P.P. No. 2448/1996 as confirmed by the Hon'ble Division Bench of the same High Court in W.A. NO. 518/1999 (Appeal) was correct and reasonable and as such the benefit of this judgment be extended to all eligible officers of Armed Forces. The Hon'ble Apex Court awarded 6% interest on the amount due to the officers. The Hon'ble Supreme court disposed of the transfer petition and allowed the writ petitions of the petitioners.
Since the Rank Pay has been deducted from the Basic Pay and all calculations are worked on basic pay it involves refixing of basic pay and working out emoluments on that basis and then working out arrears from 01-01-1986.

Donation of Rs. 25000 by Lt Gen Mahendra Singh Gosain

From: trijiwan payal trijiwan123@yahoo.co.in
Sent: 24 March 2010 11:06
To: satbirsm@yahoo.com
Cc: kamboj_cs@yahoo.co.in; Vinod Gandhi, Gp Capt, VSM
Subject: Donation/Membership IESM.

Respected General,
Yesterday, I have despatched a courier containing Membership Form of Lt Gen Mahendra Singh Gosain along with his cheque of Rs 25000/=(Rs Twenty Five Thousand) towards his membership fees and humble donation to our IESM nobel cause. I have thanked him on behalf of Chairman, Vice Chairman and Members Core Group IESM. His Contact No (M) 09412052879, (LL) 0135-2629449. his email ID is msggosain@hotmail.com ( for clarity in capitals MSGGOSAIN@HOTMAIL.COM)
The courier contains;

1. My humble donation cheque.
2. Membership Forms of Mrs Sharda Thapa, W/O Late Hav Nirmal Thapa along with THREE MEDALS of the Late NCO.
3.TWO MEDALS from Mrs Kamla Bisht W/O Late Major Shwetamber Singh Bisht (The lady is already IESM Member since 23/12/ 2009 wherein she had donated Rs 1100/=. She is a permanent resident of PUNE and my younger sister.)

Respected Brig Kamboj & Gp Capt Vinod Gandhi Sirs,
Request to share details in Membership Form of Lt Gen M S Gosain to place him on Direct Mailing List of RMS.

YOU ALL ARE ROLE MODEL FOR US TO EMULATE, I AM PROUD OF ALL OF YOU SIRS.

With deep warm regards
Sincerely Your's
Col T S Payal
(M) 08057323229
(LL) 0135-2666433

Majors' Pension - DISCUSSION WITH SECY DEF WELFARE (MOD)

From: Brig Harwant Singh
Sent: 23 March 2010 20:42
To: Indian Veterans -; M V -; RDOA India; Air force Association; Bangalore Gunners; We the; BOMBAY SAPPERS; Exservicemen Joint Action Front Sanjha Morcha
Cc: Core Group
Subject: [CoreGpIESM] Majors' Pension - DISCUSSION WITH SECY DEF WELFARE (MOD)


Dear Friends ,

Earlier , we had taken up a case with the MOD regarding the vast gap in pensions of Majors and Lt Cols , specially of Time Scale Lt Cols, who did the same job . Now our representatives have been called to discuss the matter with Secy Defence Welfare on 26 March at 11.30 AM .They will be leaving Mohali on 25 March

They will be discussing the matters on the lines given below . Veterans are requested to give suggestion for any amendments to this letter to make the case stronger by 2000h on 24 march . Additions / deletions may please be given in a manner which could be 'Cut and Paste' since time will be at premium .
===============================================================
“ALL INDIA DEFENCE BROTHERHOOD (Regd)’’
(Ex-Servicemen’s ‘‘Common Platform for Common Cause’’)
HQ 54 , PHASE-7, MOHALI (Punjab)
Phones 098144 32554, (0172) 2270154 .
E-mail : defence_brotherhood@yahoo.co.in

ANOMALY IN PENSION OF MAJORS AND EQUIVALENT RANKS
IN NAVY AND AIR FORCE

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 6 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 is far too vast and violates the law of ‘Natural Justice’, viz, ‘same compensation for same job’ (work done) . With the additional DA , this gap has increased even further.
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 low pension is NOT commensurate with their great contribution , both inpeace 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 about Rs 22500/- (Rupees Twenty Two thousand and five hundred only).

Sd/- Sd/-
Sqn Ldr SP Bains (Retd) Major SS Dhillon (Retd)
Vice President (Co- Secretary General ord)
Phones : 093572 22281 099880

War memorial Jammu by Maj Gen DN Khurana

From: D N Khurana dnkhurana@yahoo.com
Sent: 24 March 2010 09:46
To: Kamboj Chander
Subject: war memorial Jammu

My dear Chander,

I was recently visiting Jammu after a span of over 25 years. I was delighted to see the War Memorial which has been completed in November 2009. It is indeed an excellent piece of architecture- sombre,graceful and majestic standing tall on a hill overlooking the Town. It bears names of all the brave soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice during various operations in J&K.

I wish the Central Govt takes a leaf out of this great example and sets up a suitable National War Memorial in the capital.

I am attaching a photograph of the Memorial which was taken on my Cell Phone for circulation on Report my Signals for all your readers, if you think fit.

Best regards,
Don Khurana

(Maj Gen D N Khurana )

OROp by Air Cmde Raghubir singh

Dear Colonel Rajan,

Seminar on OROP is exellent idea. But we should be discussing why OROP is

essentail for defence personnel like retiring young, inflation, steep pyramid of promotion,

unique service conditions, history of OROP, promises made & promises not honoured, how

officialdom has ensured denial of OROP, comparison of pension to defence personnel in

other countries, fall out of Major Dhanaplan's case and also due to shifting upwards by one

rank by abolition of 2nd Lt rank. A Lt Col of yesteryears is equivalent to Col virtually?

Delhi may be better location & you can invite the political big-wigs and services heads for

inauguration & send the seminar document to various people who matter.

My humble request would be not to redefine OROP - Only difference may be about taking

total service or years in the last rank.This can be soted out.

Air Cmde Raghubir Singh (Retd)

IESM: Panchkula rally participants 14 Mar 2010

Dear All,
Photos of the participants from IESM Panchkula for the IESM rally at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on 14 March 2010 to press for OROP. I also had an opportunity to address the rally. A large number of ESM from IESM Panchkula surrendered their medals.I had given my medals last year to the President for safe custody (I hope). A large number of us also signed the Memorandum in blood to be given to the President/PM/RM.I also gave a further contribution of Rs 10,000/- by cheque to Lt Gen Raj Kadyan, Chairman,IESM, in addition to my earlier contributions of Rs 2,000/- & Rs 5,000/-. I appeal to you all to contribute further for OUR CAUSE !!! We will be winners for sure.
Best Regards,
Brig SS Jaswal, Veteran Madras Sapper

New members from Panchkula ....Brig Kiran Krishan, SM (Retd)

IESM/Pkl/22 Mar 10

Seven officers have joined the IESM through the Panchkula Branch as per details below:

a) Associate Membership (Under the aegis of All India Defence Brotherhood (Haryana Unit)).

S No.Rank & NameMembership FeeTotal
1Lt Col I S S ToorRs. 100Rs. 100
2Brig D S ThukralRs. 100Rs. 100
3Col Dalip Singh BajwaRs. 100Rs. 100
4Maj Gurcharan SinghRs. 100Rs. 100

Total Rs. 400

b) Life Membership.

S No.Rank & NameMembership FeeDonationTotal
1Flg Offr Jasminder SekhonRs. 100Rs. 400Rs. 500
2Lt Col Gurbakhsh SinghRs. 100Rs. 400Rs. 500
3Maj Gen Bachittar SinghRs. 100Rs. 400Rs. 500

Total Rs. 1,500

Besides, Hony Capt Sohan Lal Chawla who is already a Life Member (No. 003535L) has made a donation of Rs. 200.00.

HDFC Bank, Sector 11, Panchkula combined Cheque No 902962 dt 21-03-2010 for Rs. 2,100 (Rupees Two thousand and one hundred only) towards a/m dues has been deposited in the IESM account at the HDFC Bank, Chandimandir on 22-03-2010. You are requested to post the membership data at the appropriate registers and intimate the members

You are also requested to post a welcome message on the blog.

with regards,

Brig Kiran Krishan, SM (Retd),
Coordiator, IESM, Panchkula &
President All Indian Defence Brotherhood (Haryana Unit)

approx arrears from 4 th Pay commission incase comes through

Approx arrears would be as indicated in the attached Press Release.

INDIAN ARMED FORCES RETIRED OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION
108, Prasanna Vihar, Opp. Kerala High Court,
Marine Drive, Cochin - 682031

President: General Secretary:
Maj.K.P SreedharanRetd ) Maj A.K. Dhanapalan (Retd)
K-4, Kailash 108, Prasanna Vihar,
New Delhi-11 Opp. High Court
Mob: 9818988154, Marine Drive Cochin- 682031
Mob: 9249875342, 04842371600
Phone: 0477 2258627
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
PRESS RELEASE

Sub: 4th Pay Commission: Grant of Rank Pay

In accordance with the recommendations of the 4th Pay commission and the Govt. decision thereon, as promulgated under Gazette of India (Extra ordinary) Notification No 91 dated 18.3.1987, officers of the Army. Navy and Air Force were granted an integrated pay in the scale of Rs.2300-100-3900-150-5100. .

In addition to the pay in the integrated scale as above, Rank Pay for Captain, Major, Lt Colonel, Colonel and Brigadier and equivalent in the Navy and Air Force, were also granted @ Rs.200/-, 600/- , 800/-, 1000/-, and Rs. 1200/- PM respectively.
Although the Rank Pay was sanctioned in addition to the basic pay, while fixing the pay in the integrated scale: an amount equal to the Rank Pay was deducted from the total emoluments and the pay was fixed. This has resulted in heavy financial loss to the officers which have also cumulative effect on pay, D.A. Pension, Gratuity, etc.
Having failed to get a proper consideration of the ease, Major A.K.Dhanapalan, now retired had approached the Hon’ble High Court or Kerala for justice. in the case or Major .A.K Dhanapalan Vs Union of India in O.P 2448/96, the Hon’ble High Court or Kerala was pleased to allow the plea of the officer and held that the deduction of the Rank Pay from basic pay is NOT correct and directed to re-fix the Basic Pay with effect from 1.1.1986.

However the Union of India preferred an appeal before the larger Bench of the High Court against the judgment. Larger bench of High Court has been pleased to dismiss the appeal but the Union of India again filed an SLP in the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. This appeal was also dismissed on 10-7-05.

Officers (Serving/Retired) of the Armed Forces who were in service on 1-1-86 in the Rank of Captain, Major, Lt Col, Col, Brigadier are affected by the above judgment. According to the judgment, Pay of Major A.K Dhanapalan has been re-fixed with effect from 1-1-86 and Govt. sanction for payment of arrears was issued, whereas the benefit has not been extended to other similarly placed Officers of the Army, Navy & Air Force. This is in justice to the affected Officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force. Officers are eligible to receive minimum* arrears after re-fixation will be as under:-

Captain and Equivalent Rs. 55,000/
Major and Equivalent Rs. 1,50,000/-
Lt. Colonel and Equivalent Rs. 2,00,000/-
Colonel and Equivalent Rs. 2,50,000/-
Brigadier and Equivalent Rs. 3,30,000/-

*This is subject to length of service from 1-1-86

A few retired affected officers joined together to make an association to take further legal action against this injustice. Like-minded affected officers who are willing to join for this noble cause are welcome and may write to the Gen. Secretary, Major A.K Dhanapalan (Retd), Mob 9249875342 or the President, Major K.P Sreedharan (Retd) Mob: 9818988154, 9895242103.

Press Conference held on 16 Mar 2010 at Dehradun by DESL President Veteran Brig K.G.Behl

DON VALLEY ACTIVITIES: Press Conference held on 16 Mar 2010 at Dehradun by DESL President Veteran Brig K.G.Behl to clarify certain queries on latest Govt. orders and counter wrong statements made in the press by certain elements.

Lt Col B M Thapa, Veteran
Gen Secy, Dehradun Ex- Services League
Mob-0065-93960636





DEHRA DUN EX-SERVICES LEAGUE
Press Release
Dear friends of the Media,
A number of media friends and Defence Colleagues rang up to enquire as to what actually are the implications of the latest Govt. orders as some papers published as one rank one pension demand has been met or Govt. accepts Defence demands etc. There headings aroused wrong repercussions and created false hopes. This why I have taken this step to clarify matters as far as we know.
'One Rank One Pension' implies that uniform pension be paid to Armed Forces personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement and any future enhancement in the rates of pension be automatically passed on to the past pensioners.
But even after implying the latest orders a soldier with 17 years of service who retired before 2006 gets Rs.5465. A soldier who retired after January 2006 gets Rs.7045. per month. Why this discrepancy and discrimination when both attained the same rank and rendered same length of service.
Effectively then, an army havildar, who retired earlier, gets less pension than what a soldier retiring after January 2006 gets, though the havildar enjoys a higher rank. The mismatch applies to all ranks.
Military Service is the only Service wherein a Jawan is bundled out at the young age of 35, when he has a wife, two small children, unmarried sisters & parents to be taken care of and needs a secure job most. Not providing a suitable alternative employment by the STATE is absolutely callous. A young man who joins Govt. service in civil as a LDC or a Police constable; serves comfortably till the age of 60 years and retires in a much higher position with a good amount as pension without facing the hassles of field life on borders which a jawan goes through.
Most civilians who retire at 60, live to see only one Pay Commission after retirement, barring a few, but a Sepoy would live to see nothing less than four Pay Commissions after retirement and every time his pay goes less in comparison with persons with equal rank and service, who call him his senior.
'ONE RANK, ONE PENSION' is equally applicable to Officers, as bulk (85%) retire in the rank of now Colonels but earlier Majors/Lt Col, at the age of 50 and mow 54 years; thus losing out on pay for a number if years & enhanced pension benefits when those are required most.
It is the older pensioners of the Army, Navy A Air Force who are the worst sufferers. It is not only the serving soldier that the STATE is duty bound to take care of, but also the Veterans who have sacrificed their youth in service of the Nation with no other thought but, DUTY, HONOUR and COUNTRY and even now inspire the youngsters to fight for the Country and better their records.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, comprising 44 eminent Members of Parliament, had in their Report to Lok Sabha on 19 Aug 2003, strongly recommended the grant of ONE RANK ONE PENSION (OROP) to Ex-Servicemen. Para 99 of the said Report is reproduced below;
"The Committee has been recommending grant of 'ONE RANK ONE PENSION' to the armed forces personnel time and again. The Committee observes that successive Governments and Pay Commissions have made improvements in the pension structure keeping in view the cost of living index. This has accentuated the disparity of pensionary benefits between pensioners of the same rank. The older pensioners who have become infirm in ability and capability and burdened with a larger social obligation receive pension calculated at the rate of pay at the time of their retirement in 1950s or 1960s or 1970s, which is quite paltry and the Dearness Relief quite inconsequential in today's context of inflation and shrinking purchasing value of money. The nation must repay its debt to those Defendents of the motherland with gratitude and humility.
You would thus appreciate that One Rank One Pension is a must for the Defence Forces and should be granted to them at the earliest to meet their genuine demand.
No one likes to take extreme steps like parting with their hard earned Medals or signs letter in blood unless circumstances force one to do so. Govt. should realise this aspect and take prompt action to solve the problem rather than allowing it to escalate further and force all to do what is happening in Delhi. Latest MOD INSTRUCTIONS deal with PBOR only.
Analysis MOD Instructions 08 Mar 2010
3. The MOD has issued Instructions for implementation of the CS Committee Recommendations and Govt decision thereon under MOD letter 08 Mar 2010 and PCDA(P) Important Circular dt. 10 Mar 2010 along with 123 Tables for compliance by the PDAs for smooth implementation within period of two to three months in respect of PBORs.
4. The aforesaid Instructions do not apply to the following categories of PBORs pensioners-Pre 2006 era.
(a) Havildar granted Hony Nb/Sub rank and Subedar/Sub Major granted Hony rank of LieutV Captain. The notional pay fixation 1.1.2006 does not apply. (Para 5.1 MOD)
(b) Revision of pay scales as notional pay as on 1.1.2006 corresponding revised pay scales notified under SAI 2/S/2008 do not apply to family pensioners. The existing pension @ 30% scale of the last pay drawn / admitted in the PPO shall be consolidated with fitment scale 40% applicable for pre 1.1.2006 pensioners under the MOD letter 11.11.2008.
(c) This would imply that the Gde Pay and MSP authorized to the post 1.1.2006 retirees / pensioners would not be applicable. This provision is NOT in accordance with the Vlth CPC recommendation- Highlights page 3, Chap 2 & 5 of the CPC Report and the Govt decision thereon notified in the Gazette Notification 29 -30 Aug 2008 - Para 3.. It amounts to giving no benefits to Family Pensioners.
(d) Arrears due on revision shall be admissible from 1.7.2009 only for the living pensioners and as LTA to the next of kin of the deceased pensioner (pre 2006 era) in case of death after 1.9.2009 and date of issue of MOD letter 10.3.2010. (Para 9 &1 Oof MOD)
5. An illustrative Table for revision of pension PBORs (as notified by the MOD 08.10.2009 ) at a glance is being compiled on the lines of Table issued with DESL News- letter No. 10 issued in May 2009 to assist the pensioners to assess the correctness of the revised scale admitted by the PDAs.
6. It is evident that the scales notified suffer from various anomalies and are misleading with discrepancies of non admission of Gde pay and not computing of last pay with multiple factor 1.86 to arrive at minimum pay scale applicable. The term minimum of pay band does not exist in the Govt Notification Part 1 Sec 1-Para IV. The CCS (Revised Pay )Rules 2008 - Rule 7 further clarify if consolidation of pre-revised pay with multiple factor 1.86 is more than the minimum scale in the pay band the question of resorting to minimum scale of Pay Band does not apply.
7. The above is illustrated hereunder;
(a) A JCO with reckonable emoluments Rs.9320 (Pay scale 6600-170-9320) admitted in the PPO, with multiple factor :.1.86 works out as Rs. 17410 +CP as the earned wages for pension under the rules, whereas minimum pay in the Pay Band 2 has been reckoned Rs.9300 in para 5 of MOD letter 11.11.2008 and Annex III appended thereto. The minimum of extant pay scale Rs.6600 with multiple factor 1.86 works out as 12276 and speak for irrational reckoning of Rs.9300 as minimum pay reckoned in para 5 of the MOD letter ibid. The scaling down the earned wages of JCO pension is obvious and patently inconsistent with the law and rules stated above.
(b) The same anomaly exist in pay fixation of Officers rank - Capt & Major can also be illustrated. The reckonable emoluments of Major admitted in PPO Rs.11600 +rank pay 1200 = 12800 with multiple factor of 1.86 work out as Rs.23810 as the earned wages and deemed protected.; whereas the minimum pay of Rs. 15600 - Pay Band 3 has been reckoned in Annex II of MOD letter 11.11.2008. It patently amounts to scaling down the earned wages Rs.23810 to 15600 which is inadmissible in law.
8. The MOD instructions 08.3.2010 have merely equated the pre 1997 pension with post Oct 1997 pension and anomaly for parity in pension for pre and post 1.1.2006 stays untouched. To illustrate pre 2006 sepoy with 17 years service will get basic pension of Rs.5465 per month whereas a Sepoy with same service who retired after 1.1.2006 is getting Rs.7045 per month. This aptly illustrate the Hon'ble Supreme Court Judgment Nakra Case -AIR1983 SC -130 and relied upon by Vth CPC para 127.3 and it reads as follows:-
"Pension is an area where clarity of vision is often obscured by ill considered notions' and the Babucracy at MOD has the hey days in present dispensation.
There were certain anomalies in regrouping PBOR in XY Classification scales and in the Latest MOD Instructions of 08 Mar 2010 they have tried to remove some of the anomalies by which some of them get benefited who were earlier denied that classification. They will get the difference between the two and DA there on.
RANK PAY JUDGEMENT
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION
T.P. (C) No. 56/ 2007
IN THE MATTER OF: -
Union of India
Petitioners Versus N.K. Nair & Ors.
Respondents
5. The matter was heard and finally disposed of by the Hon'ble Supreme court by the Bench of Hon'ble Mr. Justice Markendey Katju & Hon'ble Mr. Justice R.M. Lodha today i.e. 08.03.2010 (Court-7, Item-84). The Apex Court has held that the judgment dated 05.10.1998 of the Hon'ble Single Judge of Kerala High Court in P.P. No. 2448/1996 as confirmed by the Hon'ble Division Bench of the same High Court in W.A. NO. 518/1999 (Appeal) was correct and reasonable and as such the benefit of this judgment be extended to all eligible officers of Armed Forces. The Hon'ble Apex Court awarded 6% interest on the amount due to the officers. The Hon'ble Supreme court disposed of the transfer petition and allowed the writ petitions of the petitioners.
Since the Rank Pay has been deducted from the Basic Pay and all calculations are worked on basic pay it involves refixing of basic pay and working out emoluments on that basis and then working out arrears from 01-01-1986.
All the above data has been worked out by Col. K.L. Dewan, the well known expert on the subject who is with me to explain any doubts. Also with me is Lt. Col. R.P. Jairath and Dr.B.K Nautiyal

BRIG. K.G. BEHL (RETD.)
PRESIDENT DEHRADUN EX-SERVICE LEAGUE

Press Release: Ex-Servicemen Rally at Mysore on Wednesday, 17 March 2010

From: Colonelrajan Srinivas
Sent: 18 March 2010 21:37
To: DELETED
Subject: Press Release: Ex-Servicemen Rally at Mysore on Wednesday, 17 March 2010

PRESS RELEASE

EX-SERVICEMEN RALLY
AT SQN LDR DEVAIAH BHAVAN, MYSORE
WEDNESDAY, 17 MARCH 2010

1. An EX-SERVICEMEN RALLY was held at SQN LDR DEVAIAH BHAVAN, MYSORE,on WEDNESDAY, 17 March 2010; where at, 53 distinquished Ex-Servicemen led by Veterans Maj.Gen C.K.Karumbaya, Maj.Gen K.K.Murthy, Gp.Capt S.Rajagopal, Cdr.P.Lakshman, and few wives of Exservicemen in support, signed in BLOOD, a Memorandum addressed to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, in support of their demand for grant of MILITARY PENSION by way of "ONE RANK, ONE PENSION".

2. ‘One Rank One Pension’ implies that uniform pension be paid to Armed Forces personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement and any future enhancement in the rates of pension be automatically passed on to the past pensioners.

3. The Ex-Servicemen in their Memorandum addressed to the Hon’ble Prime Minister have requested convening of a JOINT PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE [JPC] by 15 Apr 2010, to study the subject matter in its entirety and submit its Report within sixty days (ie. by 15 Jun 2010).

4. Veteran Sunil Rao,Convenor of IESM.,Mysore, said that the Memorandum is being signed by Ex-Servicemen in their own BLOOD, to impress upon the Hon’ble Prime Minister to request him to initiate immediate steps to ameliorate their problems of Pension and Re-settlement. The Ex-Servicemen in their Memorandum addressed to the Hon’ble Prime Minister have clearly stated that that in case their request for amelioration of our problems relating to Pension and Resettlement are not suitably addressed, the Ex-Servicemen, all over the Country, will be forced to further intensify their struggle; and the next and final step would be to launch a nation wide Satyagraha, undertaking
FAST UNTO DEATH, commencing on 02 Oct 2010.

Sunil Rao.
Convener
IESM.,Mysore.
9036825380.
--------------
--- On Tue, 16/3/10, J Sukumar wrote:

From: J Sukumar
Subject: [MilitaryVeterans] Fwd: FW: IESM
To: MilitaryVeterans@yahoogroups.com
Cc: "Colonelrajan Srinivas"
Date: Tuesday, 16 March, 2010, 9:46 PM

PRESS REPORTS

EX-SERVICEMEN RALLY AT BANGALORE ON SUNDAY, 14 MARCH 2010
BANGALORE MONDAY MARCH 2010
http://epaper. timesofindia. com/Daily/ skins/TOINEW/ navigator. asp?Daily= TOIBG&showST=true&login=default&pub=TOI&AW=1268650812546

EX-SERVICEMEN DRAW FIRST BLOOD

They Sign Memorandum with ‘Body Ink’ For Better Pension

WE WANT JUSTICE: Ex-servicemen intensify their movement for ‘one rank one pension’ by signing a memorandum with blood in Bangalore on Sunday. The protests were held across the country

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: Last year, they gave away their bravery medals and this year, they signed with blood.

Ex-servicemen from across the country intensified their movement for ‘one rank one pension’ in the form of rallies and signing a memorandum with blood, which will be handed over to the Prime Minister.

At a rally organized in Bangalore on Sunday, over 250 Ex-Servicemen from different parts of the state gathered to protest. Similar rallies were held in Mangalore, Udupi, Karwar, Belgaum and other areas.

The memorandum will be handed over to chief minister B S Yeddyurappa on Thursday.

‘FAST UNTO DEATH’
Resentment among ex-servicemen is so high that in case their request is not accepted, they will launch a fast-unto death campaign in October. “We had no other option but to sign with blood to show how dissatisfied we are with the system. We will ensure our efforts are noticed. Both the serviceman who retired earlier and the ones leaving the force now will have medical problems. In fact, the ones who retired earlier will face more problems. But there is almost 50% difference between our pension amount. Is this justified?” asked Lt Col (retired) M A Kariappa.

“Families of soldiers live in an environment not understood by civilians. There is separation from family at an early age, education of children is affected. But a soldier serves with dignity and takes whatever the government offers to him/her. But after retirement, we feel neglected. We realize the government doesn’t respect our service. We were promised free medical treatment but we got nothing. There is hardly any encouragement to send our children to the forces,” added Col (retired) H Shenoy.

“The UPA government is in the hands of the IAS. In the wars to save the country, the heads of soldiers have rolled. How many IAS officers have laid their lives? It is time our MPs realized it is for them to legislate these things and not get misguided by IAS officers. Ex-servicemen today are a neglected lot,” said convener, IESM, South, Col SS Rajan. Many of these ex-soldiers have worked in difficult conditions, high-altitude locations, have lost friends in war and are handicapped due to injuries.

‘BUT SOLDIERS DON’T CRY’
“We haven’t served any less. We have gone to every difficult area... I had a bypass surgery, and my one kidney failed. But soldiers don’t cry,” said Brigadier J S Narasimhan, one of the senior-most officers in the group who gave up his Ati Vishisht Seva Medal last year.

“I was part of the 1971 war in West Pakistan. I have seen my colleagues die, their legs blown off by landmines. We have great attachment towards each other. But now I wonder how are people valuing the service,” complained Lt Col (retired) S N Devdas.

The ones in lower ranks, such as hawaldars, are the worst affected. Their pensions are meagre and they sometimes can’t find new jobs. This 81-year-old former Ex-Hawaldar, R Narayan, gets Rs 5,561 as pension. “I have participated in two wars. Is this enough for me to survive? My wife passed away from cancer. I don’t want to be a burden on my daughter,” he said.
toiblr.reporter@ timesgroup. com

The NewIndianExpress
BANGALORE MONDAY MARCH 2010
http://epaper. indianexpress. com/IE/IEH/ 2010/03/15/ index.shtml

Sharan Poovanna
First Published : 15 Mar 2010 08:12:46 AM IST
Last Updated : 15 Mar 2010 09:47:22 AM IST

A BATTLE FOR EQUALITY


Veteran Brig B Chandrashekar signing the Memorandum in Blood.

BANGALORE: Our soldiers dedicate their lives in fighting for our country. Now, they fighting for ‘One Rank, One Pension’ and defending the former soldiers’ interests in a rally held by the Indian Ex-servicemen Movement (IESM) on Sunday. The former members of the various armed forces intensified their struggle for ‘One Rank, One Pension’ by signing a memorandum in their own blood to be sent to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Armed with meritorious service, nearly 250 ex-servicemen comprising officers, JCOs, NCOs and others vouched to continue the struggle if their demands were not met. “We will continue to fight till death,” said Colonel SS Rajan (Retd), South Zone and Karnataka State Convenor for the movement and added that ‘thyag, balidaan and qurbani’ were something that they were well versed with.

He said that ex-servicemen in Delhi also held a rally in the New Delhi and wanted to return nearly 5,000 medals from their service to the President in person but to no avail, as the President did not even meet them.

“The nation must repay its debt to the defendants of the motherland with gratitude and humility,” he said. Citing that bureaucrats were adding to the ‘impediment’, Rajan pointed out that elected representatives could ease the ‘pain and anguish’ that the ex-servicemen were made to suffer. Rajan said that army men were not even provided alternative employment after their service to the nation. Seeking a Joint Parliamentary Committee to be set up by April 15, 2010 to look into the issue, SS Rajan said that they will organise a national-level meet in the city to raise awareness and also try to garner support for the movement.
The protestors will meet Chief Minister BS Yedyurappa and ask him to forward the memorandum to the PM. “The PM has never given us an appointment,” he said. He added that he hoped that the memorandum would at least reach his office if the CM ratifies it. He said that they will follow Gandhian ways to make their point. The IESM will organise a “fast unto death satyagraha” later this year, Rajan added.

BENGALURU MONDAY MARCH 2010
http://www.dc- epaper.com/ DC/DCB/2010/ 03/15/INDEX. SHTML?ArtId= 004_018&Search=Y


An Ex-Servicemen signing the Memorandum in Blood
Ex-servicemen on Sunday gathered at the Rashtriya Sainika Smaraka to sign a memorandum in their blood demanding the implementation of the ONE RANK-ONE PENSION norm and better resettlement. The Memorandum will be sent to the Prime Minister.
“We have been requesting the government to constitute a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the subject by April 15 to study the subject matter in its entirety and submit a report in sixty days,” said Colonel SS Rajan, convenor, Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM), south zone and Karnataka state. The ex-servicemen have also suggested that the JPC be assisted by a group of military veterans comprising retired officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force. “We feel this is needed as they would be in a better position to analyse issues related to pay, pension and service conditions in the armed forces,” he added.
If the government does not consider their demands, the Ex-Servicemen are planning to launch a nation-wide ‘fast unto death’ from October 2 this year.

http://www.hindu. com/2010/ 03/15/stories/ 2010031561250600 .htm
BANGALORE MONDAY 15 MARCH 2010
EX-SERVICEMEN SAY IT IN BLOOD
Many sign in blood a representation seeking ‘one rank, one pension'
A large number of personnel had deposited their medals with the President last year
Seeking justice: Members of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement signing memorandum in blood in Bangalore on Sunday.
BANGALORE: Four decades ago, 65-year-old Sepoy Rajashekar B. shed his blood to defend the motherland in the 1971 war. On Sunday, he and his two brothers, who are also ex-servicemen, were among the many to sign in blood a representation to the Prime Minister for grant of military pension by way of “ONE RANK, ONE PENSION”.
A large number of ex-servicemen across all ranks took part in a campaign organised by the Indian Ex Servicemen Movement across the country. “We have shed our blood to protect the country. Now we are shedding our blood for our (Ex-Servicemen) cause. We want the Prime Minister to understand our pain and anguish,” said Mr. Rajashekar's brother Sergeant (retired) Veerabhadraiah.
Ex-servicemen from different parts of the State assembled at the War Memorial on premises of Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain. Medical personnel were removing one ml of blood from each of the ex-servicemen, who then signed the memorandum using blood.

The ex-servicemen's demand of “ONE RANK ONE PENSION” has been pending for a long time. This entails uniform pension to the personnel retiring in the same rank with same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement.
As a mark of protest, a large number of personnel had deposited their medals with the President last year. “Unlike others, we (Defence personnel) retire at a young age. We need this income to maintain our families in this age of inflation. The Government has not been showing any respect to the ranks we are decorated with. A Group Captain, who retires now, gets pension of Rs. 5,000 more compared to me,” said Group Captain Bhujang, who retired in 2000.

Brigadier (retired) Chandrashekar termed as eyewash the measure announced by the Union Government in the last budget. “In the guise of addressing our issue, the government increased the pension of sepoys, who retired prior to 1996, by 15 per cent and brought them on par with those who retired in 2006. They (Government) have managed to create two groups — one who retired prior to 2006 and other who retired after 2006. There is a huge difference in the pension that the two groups get,” Brigadier (retd) Chandrashekar said.
DNA
Daily News & Analysis
Bangalore, Monday, 14 March 2010
http://epaper. dnaindia. com/dnabangalore /epapermain. aspx?queryed= 9&username=&useremailid=&parenteditioncode= 9&eddate=3%2f15% 2f2010



EX-SERVICEMEN FIGHTFOR ONE RANK ONE PENSION SCHEME WITH BLOOD

Ex-Servicemen, led by Col Rajan, staged a demonstration in the City on Sunday demanding the implementation of ‘One Rank One Pension’. Expressing their displeasure at the disparity in Pension being paid to retired personnel from Armed Forces, the protesters said that there were thousands of instances of senior officers who had retired years ago and were earning a pension lower than a Jawan who retired recently. The protesters forwarded a Memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pratibha Patilwritten in Blood, demanding the immediate implementation of a fair pension scheme

--
Regards,
Cdr C Joseph Sukumar
-------------

Pension bonanza for ex-servicemen after Supreme Court ruling

Pension bonanza for ex-servicemen after Supreme Court ruling

16 Mar 2010, 2006 hrs IST, IANS
NEW DELHI: Some 30,000-40,000 armed forces officers who were commissioned or retired between 1986 and 1996 are in for a pay arrears and pension bonanza with the Supreme Court upholding a high court ruling that the amounts had been erroneously calculated.

Upholding the Kerala High Court ruling that "rank pay" should be included while calculating an officer's pay and pension, the Supreme Court has directed this be re-recalculated and paid with retrospective effect from Jan 1, 1986.

"We also direct interest to be paid thereon at 6 percent per annum," a bench of justice Markendey Katju and justice RM Lodha ruled. The judgment was delivered last week but a copy was made available only Tuesday.

The judgment will not apply to officers who were commissioned or retired post-1996 as they are covered under the Fifth and Sixth Pay Commissions.

"With this judgment, the pay of all affected officers will have to be re-fixed from Jan 1, 1986, with consequential benefits on pay, pension, commutation and leave encashment," the Retired Defence Officers Association (RDOA) that pursued the case in the Supreme Court said in a statement.

"The anticipated arrears would range from a couple of thousand rupees to a few lakh per officer depending upon the rank held and reckonable service of the officer. About 30,000 to 40,000 officers, both serving and retired, including widows, would be directly benefited," the statement said.

According to the RDOA, the defence ministry committed a "faux paus" by not including "rank pay" in the total emoluments and then doing the pay fixation, as had been recommended by the Fourth Pay Commission, which presented its final report in 1987.

"This resulted in huge financial loss to the officers with cumulative effect on pay, DA, pension, gratuity and commutation," the association said.

Acting on the plea of Major AK Dhanapalan, a single judge bench of the Kerala High Court October 5, 1998, directed that the calculations be done afresh. A division bench of the high court upheld this July 4, 2003.

The government appealed against this in the Supreme Court and the RDOA also filed its own plea.

Many similar petitions were filed in various high courts all over the country by other officers as well.

"These were clubbed together and transferred to the Supreme Court to be heard along with an transfer petition of similar nature that had arisen out of a case that was allowed on the basis of the judgment in Major Dhanapalan's case," RDOA said.

Pension bonanza for ex-servicemen after Supreme Court ruling

IANS and its “one-rank-one-pension” report of 15-3-2010

Our Mainstream English language Media which can report full details of crickey-hickey matches ending at midnight in the next morning editions in full detail with porny pictures spread over pages, cannot be bothered to report news which highlight the Treasonous, Nation-destroying activities of The Un Prinicpled Alliance led by Aliens in Delhi, either accurately, or in detail.

Thus the IANS reports laconically that “Around 1000 retired defence personnel on Sunday staged a protest here (Dilli) demanding equal pension for each rank.” Actually over 2000 Ex-Servicemen from all over India attended with their families, and over 6000 petitions signed in blood were handed over to the Rashtrapathi Bhavan “staff”.

The Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, to wit the First Female President of India, did not have the decency or even common courtesy to receive the 5000 Medals deposited by the aggrieved soldiers, so the team decided not to hand over the medals to her MENIALS of the Rashtrapathi Bhavan, and brought them back.

And need we add that the Prime Dummy Minister and his Italian Handler and a host of Dilli Cabinet Extras were busy sucking up to the Dravidian Papa Doc at Chennai. Maa chodhaai Hindusthan.

A similar rally was held in Bangaluru also where 150 veterans signed in blood and handed over their medals.

This is not the first time that such an Event is taking place in Dilli either.

The bastards who are siphoning off Indian money for themselves - and for arming and enthusing Jihadis and Crusaders in India and abroad - cannot be expected to understand the anguish of the soldiers. They and their families can rot for all these criminals care. Like the families of Security guards who gave up their lives to defend them are begging in the streets, while Afzal Gurus, Kasabs and other traitors enjoy chicken briyani and demand khusboo in our jails, waiting to be repatriated with full honours - like Sunjoo Boba.

Helicopters will be purchased, the most expensive in the world at that, for these VIP Traitors without any hassles, but mid-air fuellers, submarines and guns will be given the Red Tape Run Around – and finally worthless equipment will be “purchased” from our presently fashionable Mai-Baapland at “Negotiated Price”. Chances are high that these “arms” will be Pakistan Army Surplus made in USA.

Chances of re-colonising and another round of Ethnic Cleansing are even higher.

SD/ ***********




.
UNQUOTE

They Sign Memorandum with ‘Body Ink’ For Better Pension

WE WANT JUSTICE: Ex-servicemen intensify their movement for ‘one rank one pension’ by signing a memorandum with blood in Bangalore on Sunday. The protests were held across the country
They Sign Memorandum with ‘Body Ink’ For Better Pension

Bangalore: Last year, they gave away their bravery medals and this year, they signed with blood.

Ex-servicemen from across the country intensified their movement for ‘one rank one pension’ in the form of rallies and signing a memorandum with blood, which will be handed over to the Prime Minister.

At a rally organized in Bangalore on Sunday, over 250 Ex-Servicemen from different parts of the state gathered to protest. Similar rallies were held in Mangalore, Udupi, Karwar, Belgaum and other areas.

The memorandum will be handed over to chief minister B S Yeddyurappa on Thursday.

‘FAST UNTO DEATH’
Resentment among ex-servicemen is so high that in case their request is not accepted, they will launch a fast-unto death campaign in October. “We had no other option but to sign with blood to show how dissatisfied we are with the system. We will ensure our efforts are noticed. Both the serviceman who retired earlier and the ones leaving the force now will have medical problems. In fact, the ones who retired earlier will face more problems. But there is almost 50% difference between our pension amount. Is this justified?” asked Lt Col (retired) M A Kariappa.

“Families of soldiers live in an environment not understood by civilians. There is separation from family at an early age, education of children is affected. But a soldier serves with dignity and takes whatever the government offers to him/her. But after retirement, we feel neglected. We realize the government doesn’t respect our service. We were promised free medical treatment but we got nothing. There is hardly any encouragement to send our children to the forces,” added Col (retired) H Shenoy.

“The UPA government is in the hands of the IAS. In the wars to save the country, the heads of soldiers have rolled. How many IAS officers have laid their lives? It is time our MPs realized it is for them to legislate these things and not get misguided by IAS officers. Ex-servicemen today are a neglected lot,” said convener, IESM, South, Col SS Rajan. Many of these ex-soldiers have worked in difficult conditions, high-altitude locations, have lost friends in war and are handicapped due to injuries.

‘BUT SOLDIERS DON’T CRY’
“We haven’t served any less. We have gone to every difficult area... I had a bypass surgery, and my one kidney failed. But soldiers don’t cry,” said Brigadier J S Narasimhan, one of the senior-most officers in the group who gave up his Ati Vishisht Seva Medal last year.

“I was part of the 1971 war in West Pakistan. I have seen my colleagues die, their legs blown off by landmines. We have great attachment towards each other. But now I wonder how are people valuing the service,” complained Lt Col (retired) S N Devdas.

The ones in lower ranks, such as hawaldars, are the worst affected. Their pensions are meagre and they sometimes can’t find new jobs. This 81-year-old former Ex-Hawaldar, R Narayan, gets Rs 5,561 as pension. “I have participated in two wars. Is this enough for me to survive? My wife passed away from cancer. I don’t want to be a burden on my daughter,” he said.
toiblr.reporter@ timesgroup. com