C-IN-C INAUGURATED THE ARMED FORCES TRIBUNAL

1. The much awaited justice system for the Armed Forces personnel has finally been inauguared by the President, Smt Pratibha Patil today. The details/modalities etc. be seen at http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=51715

ASSURED CAREER PROGRESSION SCHEME FOR ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL (PBORs)

1. The 6th CPC (Para 2.3.34) have recommended that a Time Bound Promotion Scheme (Assured Career Progression Scheme) in the case of PBORs, allowing 2 financial upgradations on completion of 10 and 20 yrs of service (while the Govt agreed for 3 upgradations on completion of 08,16/24 yrs). This will allow a benefit of one increment and a higher Grade Pay. As regards the other sugggestion relating to the MOD may set up a Inter Services Committee to consider the matter after the revised scheme of revising pay bands is implemented.

2. The VI CPC recommendations in r/o the CG Civilian Employees were already implemented (orders issued), the same in r/o the AF personnel are yet to be issued, although nearly a full year had elapsed.

3. Your honour is requested to personally intervene and order issuance of Orders on ACP for AF personnel, URGENTLY.

A CASE FOR GRANT OF BONDED ALLOWANCE TO ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL

1. The Career in the Armed Forces, perhaps, ONE OF ITS KIND, is linked to Supreme Sacrifice during the course of its deployment in war or peace times. The extreme and exacting physical fitness of the prospective personnnel is the tough demand of the Armed Forces Training Institutes to keep them in physical/fighting fitness not only during the training but also throughout the career. Leave alone the deaths occuring at borders during wars of skirmishes with enemies or terrorists, the GOI, MOD specifically indemnifies themselves NOT LIABLE for any INJURIES/DEATH during the process of RECRUITMENT OR TRAINING at Military Training Institutes. Please login http://docs.google.com/View?id=ddbr6w4w_36j99kvtf6 for a very detailed article on this subject.

2. The GOI, on the recommendations of VI CPC had extended several benefits of the AF personnel on par basis , to the Civilian employees. But the GOI/6th CPC have conveniently ignored that the AF Personnel are subject to Army/AF/Navy Acts,(which are very Stringent) in addition to all other Laws of the Land. Thus, the DOUBLE RISKS of SUPREME SACRIFICE AND INACCECIBILITY to several rights available to their CG Employees to redress their grievances. The GOI is fully aware of AF Personnel's special working circumstances and, therefore, taken steps like Creation of a Separate Dept for Ex-SM afffairs in MOD, Formation of Armed Forces Tribunal to exclusively deal the legal cases, and agreeing to set up a Separate Pay Commission to them.

3. This Bond Remuneration to AF personnel may be granted at least @ Rates on par with that of @ 25% of basic pay granted to CG Employees working in NE Regions, w.e.f. 1.9.08, to be just and make good this deficiency, to AF Prsonnel.

COMMITTEE OF SECRETARIES HEADED BY CABINET SECRETARY : GIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS

1. In turning down OROP the Committee has relied on earlier committee and GOM reports, SC judgement on ESL petition filed as a sequel to the decision in DS Nakara & Ors Vs Union of India, and advice of the Ministry of Law.

The Committee also interacted with various ESM Associations, namely, the IESL and the Air Force Association to seek their views. The Associations gave the following major options in regard to OROP:
Option 1 Calculation of the pension of pre-1.1.2006 retirees by reckoning the highest of the pay in the pay band for each rank and thereafter application of weightage to this figure.
Option 2 Calculation of the pension of pre-1.1.2006 retirees by taking the mid-point between the minimum fitment of each rank in the revised pay band and maximum of the pay band and thereafter applying the weightage.
Option 3 Calculation of the pension of pre- 1.1.2006 retirees with reference to the notional maximum in the post- 1.1.2006 pay scales. Thereafter the weightage may be applied.
Options 1&2 were found not feasible as even the pension of post 1.1.2006 retirees is not calculated on this basis. “However, the option 3 is similar to the benefit granted in 2006 based on the recommendations of the GOM.”

Summary of Recommendations
PBOR
(1)Bring pre-10.10.1997 PBOR pensioners on par with post 10.10.1997 PBOR pensioners. (financial implication – 470.66 Crore per annum)
(2)Accept enhancement of classification allowance wef 1.1.2006 on notional basis (as in case MSP). This would benefit around 88000 PBOR. (Financial implication – 7.73 Crore per annum). To be implemented wef 1.1.2006 and pay arrears.
(3) Notional, weightage sans Arrears:
(a) Reckon pension of all pre 1.1.2006 PBOR pensioners with reference to a notional maximum in the post 1.1.2006 revised pay structure corresponding to the maximum of pre-Sixth Pay Commission pay scales as per fitment table of each rank.
(b) Also to continue with the enhanced weightage awarded by the GOM.
This will result in average monthly increase in the pension of pre 1.1.2006 PBOR in the range of Rs 800 to Rs 1400 for Gp Y depending on rank and years of service. Will benefit 12 lakh pre 1.1.2006 PBOR pensioners, (financial implication – 1636 Crore per annum). Being a new concession applies prospectively. No arrears.
Commissioned Officers
(4) Remove linkage of full pension with 33 years of qualifying service wef 1.1.2006 instead of 1.9.2008. Will benefit around 1100 officers (Army) whose pension would increase by about Rs 3000 pm (financial implication – 4.83 Crore per annum). Proposal emanates from Sixth PC; implement from 1.1.2006 and pay arrears.
(5) A separate pay scale starting at 67000 and going up to 79000 be created and all offrs at the level of Lt Gen/Addl Secy/equivalent be fixed in this scale. As a result, pension of pre-1.1.2006 Lt Gens will get fixed at 36500.00 and those of Addl Secys at 33500.00. Will benefit roughly 4000 offrs. (Financial implication – 25 Crore per annum). Proposal emanates from Sixth PC; implement from 1.1.2006 and pay arrears. The Committee has justified the increase for Lt Gens by stating that after the Sixth PC recommendations, the pensions of pre-1.1.2006 Brigs, Colonels and Lt Cols have greatly improved and in percentage terms there is very little difference the pension of pre-1.1.2006 and that with ref to minimum of fitment tables. The difference is around 2% at the level of Lt Col, 6% at the level of Colonel, 11% at the level of Brigadier, 13% at the level of Maj Gen. Only at the level of Lt Gen is there a difference of about 26%.
(Source : Reportmysignal blogspot)