One Rank One Pay Implementation of
the Pension of Defence Forces Officers.
“The soldiers of the same rank and the
same length of service receive the same pension, irrespective of retirement
date”
The rank structure in the Army identifies an officer based
on the nature of responsibilities entrusted to him. The structure is pyramidal in nature. This
pyramidal structure starts from the
level of a Battalion Commander on
wards. There is no pyramidal structure before that. The implementation of OROP
for granting same pay for the same rank for the same year of service works out
perfectly in respect of officers starting
from the responsibilities of a Battalion Commander on wards.
However it is not the same in the case of Majors and Lt.
Cols. since both perform the responsibilities of a company commander. The
difference is only in the working experience. The Major has a working
experience between six to thirteen years of service, where as a Lt. Col. has
the working experience of above thirteen year service. The transition from a
major to a Lt. Col. therefore is purely based on the year of service i. e.
experience. The Major is in the pay scale of PB3 and has a service
experience from six to thirteen years . After the completion of thirteen years of
service all Majors are placed in the scale of PB 4. and they are identified by giving them the rank of
Lt. Col. This transition is 100 percent
and automatic in nature and therefore
the same rule should also be applied to all the retired Majors having more than
thirteen years of service keeping in view of the rule of same pension for the
same length of service irrespective of retirement date. They should
automatically be given the rank of a Lt.
Col. and their pension be worked out based on the scale in PB 4. This would
clear all the anomalies that have arisen in the pension structure of the
officers of the defence forces.
4 comments:
The implimentation of OROP for the defense officers needs to be done keeping in view the special nature of anomaly for the calculation of pension of Majors and
lt. Cols.
A Supreme Court ruling from 1983 stated, “Pension is not a bounty nor a matter of grace depending upon the sweet will of the employer. It is not an ex-gratia payment, but a payment for past services rendered.”
"It was noted that OROP implies that uniform pension be paid to the 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 to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners," .
In view of the above, the anomaly can easily be removed in respect of pension of Majors by treating them a Lt. Cols. by giving due consideration to the service rendered by them.
Re-eruption of this issue in future pay commissions and in-flooding of judicial or non judicial representations can only be checked for ever by granting pre 16 Dec 2004 retiree Majors and their equivalents in other two services a total socioeconomic parity with that of post 16 Dec 2004 retiree Lt Col and equivalents.
This issue does not clash with any other pay issue because the minimum retiring rank in the Defence Forces has been revised wef 16 Dec 2004 and warrants its applicability to all surviving pre 16 Dec 2004 retiree Majors.
By not following this rightful equation the Govt will not only be violating Article 14, 16 and 39 of the Indian Constitution but would also be socioeconomically demoting / relegating them to their junior rank and appointment.
UPA Govt was indecisive on this inescapable and glaring anomaly for they always valued financed over social justice only in case of Armed Forces veterans. They have every time belied the trust of Armed Forces personnel serving or retired.
Let us hope this Govt with overwhelming majority grants its legitimate socioeconomic place & position the AF veterans, specially pre 16 Dec 2004 retiree Majors with 13 years and above qualifying service.
Veteran Onkar Singh Negi
The comments are apt and the issue needs a serious consideration.
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