A RETIRED LT COLONEL EXPOSES DEFENCE PENSION RACKET

        THE FOLLOWING IS POSTED FOR THE INFORMATION OF ALL VETERAN BROTHERS:-
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       NAGPUR: A retired Lieutenant Colonel has moved the high court here claiming that many persons were illegally drawing pension meant for World War-II  (WW-II) veterans. The 61-year-old Lt Col Shrikant Kane produced information obtained under Right to Information (RTI) Act and said as many as 59 persons were being given pension in contravention of eligibility norms for years. The amount involved may run lakhs.

The petitioner who retired as regular officer of Indian Army's Corps of Signals after over two decades of service has prayed for directions to the state government to investigate the matter and arrest the beneficiaries. Alternatively, he demanded an enquiry by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) within a stipulated period.

A division bench comprising justices Dilip Sinha and Filomeno Reis issued notices to the respondents - state home secretary and Ram Nagar police station officer at Chandrapur -- on Wednesday asking them to file replies within two weeks. According to counsel for the petitioner Anand Parchure, the World War-II veterans (or their widows) who had taken part in the battle as uniformed soldiers of Indian Army and who retired from active service till 1949 used to get Rs 300 monthly pension. This benefit is being given as per a government notification dated December 29, 1989. It was raised to Rs 600 in January 1999 and finally to Rs 1,275 in 2004.

These grants were provided by director, department of sainik welfare (Maharashtra), who has to arrange payment and subsequent accounting to the eligible persons through Zilla Sainik Welfare offices under the respective district collectors in the state. Kane claimed that three persons were allegedly reaping pensionary benefits even after being recruited at the end of second world war- August 14, 1945 - which is contrary to the rules. Citing reports received from Accountant General (AG), Nagpur office, he claimed that Zilla Sainik Welfare office in Chandrapur had illegally paid Rs 2.18 lakh to these three persons - one male and two widows.

The petitioner who obtained this information through RTI pointed out this fact to the Zilla Sainik Welfare Officer in Chandrapur. It, in turn, passed on the information to Department of Sainik Welfare. Still, the payments to the three persons continued. The retired Colonel has also apprised principal secretary and AG office about these irregularities but no cognizance was taken.

When the petitioner filed another query under RTI about list of persons availing WW-II benefits, he learnt that as many as 59 ineligible persons were reaping benefits. Earlier also, Kane had filed a civil petition in this regard and the court had directed police to register a complaint against such persons on September 9. Still, the government failed to take any steps resulting in huge amounts being paid to undeserving persons, he claimed.

(SOURCE : TIMES OF INDIA)
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COMMENTS :

       WHILE THE GENUINE DEMANDS OF THE ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL ARE STILL NOT MET(THE OROP ISSUE) AND ARE UNDER THE GOVT PROCESS, WHEREIN THE RULE POSITION, SECTIONS/SUB-SECTIONS AND LINKING UP OTHER EXTERNAL AND IRRELEVANT ISSUES,  THIS IS SIMPLY UN-BELIEVABLE.

      THE CROOKS/FRAUDSTERS JOIN HANDS WITH THE PETTY OFFICIALS OF THE DISTRICT OFFICIALS, WHO IN TURN FUNCTION AS DE-FACTO AGENTS OF THE SENIOR OFFICIALS OF THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, SUPPRESS RELEVANT INFORMATION  AND HOOD-WINK THE GOVT AND DRAW GOVT MONIES.  THEY OFTEN GO UNPUNISHED.

      WE MAY FIND A LOWEST LEVEL (LDC/ASST) MAY BE SUPENDED/REMOVED FROM SERVICE (OR HE/SHE MIGHT HAVE ALREADY RETIRED), THE SENIOR OFFICIALS ARE NEVER QUESTIONED/TOUCHED.

      THIS MAY BE AMALL TIP OF AN ICEBERG(IN ONE DIST).  WHAT ABOUT IN OTHER DISTRICTS. WE WILL NEVER KNOW.

     THE GOVT MUST DEAL WITH AN IRON HAND AND IMMEDIATELY SUPEND THE CONCERNED DISTRICT COLLECTORS AND INTIATE ENQUIRY BY CBI, SO THAT THE TRUTH/FACTS REVEALED. AND THE MESSAGE MUST REACH ALL AS A DETERRANT.