Tuesday 4 November 2014

Non-Functional Upgradation - The Truth obtained through requests under RTI Act, 2005



True typed Copies of  three replies to different requests under RTI on NFU are given below for information.
You may wish to circulate these for information of your colleagues and friends/peers/seniors  

I have deleted my name and address below the To----- as that part is not material.

Best Wishes
First Reply
RTI Matter
Immediate
No. 35 (11)/2013/D (Pay/Services)
Government of India
Ministry of Defence
                                      New Delhi, the 8th October, 2013

To,
 ----------------------------
          Subject: Information sought under RTI Act 2005 – Non Functional Upgradation
 Sir,
        
           This is with reference to your application dated 4.9.2013 (received on 17.9.2013) and dated 23.9.2013 (recd on 27.9.2013) and two applications sent via internet dated 8.9.2013 received from D (RTI) section vide MoD ID No. MODEF/R/2013/(^0351/60352)/D (RTI) dated 11.9.2013 on the above subject.

2.     The issue of Non Functional Upgradation to personnel of the Armed Forces was one of the five issues relating to service personnel which were considered by the Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary. The Committee submitted its Report to the Prime Minister. It is stated that the recommendations on pay related issues of the report of the Committee have been further examined in Ministry of Defence and it has been still decided to wait (emphasis supplied). 

3.      If you are not satisfied with the information provided you may write to the Appellate Authority, Shri Praveen Kumar, Director (AG-I), Ministry of Defence, Room No. 102, Sena Bhavan, New Delhi within 30 days.  
  Yours faithfully,
Sd/-----------------------
(P. S. Walia)
Under Secretary & CPIO
*        *        *        *        *
Second Reply

RTI MATTER
No. 35 (11)/2013/D(Pay/Services)
Government of India
Ministry of Defence
New Delhi, the 27th December, 2013
  To
 ---------------------------
 Subject: Seeking Information under RTI Act – 2005
 Sir,
          Reference is invited to MoD ID No. MODEF/R/2013/(61057)/D(RTI) dated 10.12.2013 (received in this Section on 12.12.2013) and forwarding your application dated 9.12.2013 on the above subject.

 2.     The issue on Non Function Upgradation was one of the issues considered by the Cabinet Secretary Committee. It is informed that decision on the recommendations of Cabinet Secretary Committee Report on the issues related to serving defence personnel is yet to be taken by the Government (emphasis supplied). Hence, the information sought vide above referred applicant cannot be shared at this stage by this Ministry under Section 8 (1) (i) of RTI Act, 2005.

 3.     The Appellate Authority is Shri Praveen Kumar, Director (AG-I), Ministry of Defence, Room No. 103, Sena Bhavan, New Delhi.
 Sd/---------------------
(P. S. Walia)
Under Secretary & CPIO
*        *        *        *        *        *
 Third Reply 
    
Reply dated 8th September 2014 received on 15th September 2014
No. 35 (1)/2013/D (Pay/Services)
Government of India
Ministry of Defence
New Delhi, the 8th September, 2014
To
---------------------
          Subject: Seeking information under RTI Act, 2005
Sir,
          Reference is invited to MoD ID No. MODEF/R/2014/61542 dated 28.8.2014 forwarding your application dated 26.8.2014 received in this section on 1.9.2014 on the above subject.

2.       The issue of Non-Functional Upgradation to Armed Forces officers was one of the issues considered by the Cabinet Secretary Committee. The Committee recommended that pay related issues may be specifically referred to the next pay commission for its consideration as the Pay Commission is the expert body set up for this purpose which can examine these issues in a holistic manner (emphasis supplied). Government has accepted these recommendations. Accordingly, Services have been requested to take further necessary action. MoD has also referred the pay related issues to 7th CPC. In this connection, copies of MoD letters No. 22 (4)/2012-D (Pay/Services) dated 4th July 2014 and 25th August 2014 are enclosed.  

3.       The Appellate Authority is Shri Pradeep Kumar, Director (AG-I), Ministry of Defence, Room No. 102, Sena Bhavan, New Delhi.
sd/--------------
                                                                                08.09.14
(V. N. Raveendran)
                                                                                          Under Secretary & CPIO
Encl: as above
*         *         *         *         *
Most Immediate
Government of India
Ministry of Defence
          Subject: Decision on the recommendations of Cabinet Secretary Committee on pay related issues of Defence Services Personnel
        
          On the directions of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, a Committee under the chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary to look into certain pay and pension issues of serving and retired Defence Services Personnel was set up by the Cabinet Secretariat in July 2012. The Committee was serviced by D/o Expenditure. The issues placed before the Committee were as under: -
        
  (i)       Defence Services Personnel

                    (a)      Common pay scales for in-service JCOs/ORs
                    (b)      Initial pay fixation of Lt Col/Col and Brig/equivalent
                    (c)      Review and enhancement of Grade Pay
                    (d)      Placing of all Lt Gens in HAG+ scale, and
                     (e)      Grant of Non-Functional Upgradation (NFU) to Armed Forces personnel
  (ii)      Ex-servicemen
  
                  (a)      One Rank One Pension
                    (b)      Enhancement of Family Pension
                    (c)      Dual Family Pension
                    (d)      Family pension to mentally/physically challenged children of Armed Forces personnel on
                    marriage.
2.       The Committee submitted its report in August 2012. A copy of the Report is enclosed herewith. All the recommendations of the Committee related to Ex-servicemen have been implemented by issue of eight Government letters on 17.1.2013.

3.       Regarding the issues related to serving Defence Personnel, the Committee vide Para 39 of its Report noted that

“the pay related issues are complex and have ramifications across the Government including on para-military personnel. The proposals made by Defence Forces in many cases are at variance with some principles followed by the Sixth Pay Commission(emphasis supplied).

Further, vide Para 41 of its Report, the Committee recommended that

          “In the circumstances, the Committee recommends that the pay related issues may be specifically referred to the next Pay Commission for its consideration as the Pay Commission is the expert body set up for this purpose which can examine these issues in a holistic manner” (emphasis supplied).

4.              The Government has accepted the above recommendations of the Committee on pay related issues. Accordingly, the above five issues related to serving defence personnel are referred to 7th CPC for its consideration. 
Sd/-------------------
25.08.14
(Pradeep Kumar)
Director (AG-I)
2301 4036
Secretary, 7th Central Pay Commission, Post Box No. 4599, Hauz Khas PO, New Delhi – 110 016

MoD ID No. 22(4)/2012-D(Pay/Services) dated 25th August 2014
Encl: as above
Copy to: -
1.       Ministry of Finance (Deptt of Expenditure)
2.       Cabinet Secretariat
3.       Prime Minister’s Office
4.       AFPCC
5.       D (PCC) MoD

*         *         *         *         *
Most Immediate
Government of India
Ministry of Defence

No. 22(4)/2012-D(Pa/Services)                                                    New Delhi, 04th July 2014
Office Memorandum
          Subject:      Decision on the recommendations of Cabinet Secretary Committee on pay related issues of Defence Services Personnel
          The undersigned is directed to say that on the directions of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, a Committee under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary to look into certain pay and pension related issues of serving and retired Defence Services Personnel was set up by the Cabinet Secretariat in July 2012. The issues placed before the Committee were as under:  

           (i)       Defence Services Personnel
                    (a)      Common pay scales for in-service JCOs/ORs
                    (b)      Initial pay fixation of Lt Col/Col and Brig/equivalent
                    (c)      Review and enhancement of Grade Pay
                    (d)      Placing of all Lt Gens in HAG+ scale, and
                    (e)      Grant of Non-Functional Upgradation (NFU) to Armed Forces personnel

          (ii)      Ex-servicemen
                    (a)      One Rank One Pension
                    (b)      Enhancement of Family Pension
                    (c)      Dual Family Pension
                     (d)      Family pension to mentally/physically challenged children of Armed Forces personnel   
                     on marriage

2.       The Committee submitted its report in August 2012. All the recommendations of the Cabinet Secretary Committee related to Ex-servicemen have already been implemented.

3.       In respect of issues related to serving Service Personnel, the Committee vide Para 39 of its Report noted that

“the pay related issues are complex and have ramifications across the Government including on para-military personnel. The proposals made by Defence Forces in many cases are at variance with some principles followed by the Sixth Pay Commission.”

Vide Para 41 of its Report, the Committee recommended that

          “In the circumstances, the Committee recommends that the pay related issues may be specifically referred to the next Pay Commission for its consideration as the Pay Commission is the expert body set up for this purpose which can examine these issues in a holistic manner.”

4.       Government has accepted the above recommendations of the Cabinet Secretary Committee on pay related issues.
Sd/-------------------
(Pradeep Kumar)
Director (AG-I)
2301 4036
Prime Minister’s Office
(w.r.t. their communication No. 270/3/3/2009.E.S.I Vol.5 dated 25.7.2013) 

Cabinet Secretariat
(w.r.t. their communication No. 213/2/3/2012 CA.IV dated 16.7.2013)

Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure)
(w.r.t. their communication No. 94473/14/E.III(A) dated 30.6.2014

Copy to: - Director, TRIPAS for taking further necessary action in the matter. A copy of the Report of the Committee is also enclosed.
Sd/-------------------
(Pradeep Kumar)
Director (AG-I)
2301 4036
Sd/------4/7/14


3 comments:

  1. Sir,
    Committee headed by respected Cabinet Secretary recommeded that pay related issues are best deliberated by pay commissions.. then why the case was referred to the committee in first place.. Government could have taken this decision to refer to cpc in 2012 itself. But it was kept on simmer ... Also, none of the issues for serving personnel referred to this committee has moved ahead. Is such a powerful high level committee so incompetent..... Also, do Pay commissions come from another planet and donot have any one from IAS and Finance and have more expertise than a committee headed by Cabinet Secretary. Cabinet Secretariat can advise the government for all the policy decisions but when it comes to armed forces, the committee felt itself incompetent to give the recommendations on pay related issues. Why a commission was not set up in 2012 itself to study these issues and give recommendations when we have commissions for other so called complex issues. why wait till 7cpc..?

    Moreover, the statement that “the pay related issues are complex and have ramifications across the Government including on para-military personnel; is misleading to say the least. Did 6cpc deliberate the ramifications that its recommendations about NFU to AIS and Group A services will have on services. No...In any case Defence personnel got nothing in common with para military personnel then why should NFU for defence personnel have ramifications for para military personnel.

    And lastly, why the government has taken decision only in 2014 to refer it to 7cpc if the recommendations were so clear to refer to cpc in 2012 itself. Bunch of lies and delays at all levels.......

    NFU if at all it comes is delayed by full 10 years and its implications in monetary terms to defence personnel need to be worked out and compensated by 7cpc by making it applicable retrospectively wef 01 jan 2006. Loud thinking -- yes I am..

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sir,

    Some on chatroll calling himself @pka1971 is saying NFU is also applicable to JCOs/ORs because a 3rd ACP is being introduced and that is NFU for us.

    Please provide a corroboration or the correct information, because we have full faith in the information on your blog.

    And please continue your efforts though that @pka1971 writes derogatory comments.
    Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  3. As per information available

    Para 15 (c) of SAI No. 1/S/2008, there are already 3 ACP in the 8th, 16th and 24th year of service.

    DOP&T O.M. No. 14017/64/2008 - Estt (RR) dated 24 Apr 09, NFU is for Class A Officers in Pay Bands 3, 4 and HAG.

    Payment of NFU to Commissioned Officers of Defence Services has been referred to 7th CPC.

    To the best of my information, there isn't a proposal for extending the existing NFU to JCO/OR.

    About 70 pages of notings on MoD's files are awaited and the issue will become clearer then.

    Finally, one derogatory opinion makes no difference because I place facts as they exist on files for information of thousands of readers of this blog.

    If I stop placing facts on my blog, then I will be dishonouring all those readers for the sake of one who finds nothing good in me.

    ReplyDelete