Letter to Shri Manohar Parrikar on non-disclosure of Cabinet Secretary Committee report

                                                                                       3rd March 2015

Dear Shri Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister,

At the very outset, I apologise for my manner of addressing you without the honorifics. I have taken heart from the orders of the President of India and Supreme Commander.

In pursuit of trying to improve my knowledge of how the MoD takes decisions, I have been applying for information. One such request (Please see attachment 61820 MODEF Request Cab Sec Report Details) was for a copy of the Cabinet Secretary Committee Report on Pay, Allowances and Pension anomalies of Defence Forces (hereinafter referred to as Report) submitted to then PM, Dr. Manmohan Singh.

I received a reply denying me the Report on the grounds that MoF's Deptt of Expenditure was the servicing department and it has denied access as the Report is SECRET. (Please see attachment 61820 Reply & Addl Payment and Appeal).

I also applied to MoF, Deptt of Expenditure for a copy of the Report. (Please see attachment 60517 MoF DoE Request). I was denied information on the grounds that MoD is the administrative Ministry and it has to decide on downgrading the Report.

When I was denied the information, I filed a First Appeal, first with the MoD and then with the MoF, DoE.  I received orders making me understand the Govt's paradigm of how a denial of information should be made by passing the onus to the other. (Please see attachment FAA Orders MoD and MoF).

I pointed out the contradictions in the averments of Director level officers of the MoD and MoF (Please see attachment titled Replies to First Appeals by MoD and MoF).

Lately, i.e. 13th February 2015, MoD vide its letter No. 35(1)/2013/D (Pay/Services) and MoF have gone one better - both Ministries have referred the matter to Deptt of Pensioners and Pensioners Welfare (DP&PW) on 21.1.2015 for DP&PW's comments for downgrading the report and so far the said Deptt has not replied to the MoD and to MoF.

May I seek your intervention in the matter for orders to provide me the Cabinet Secretary Committee Report on Pay, Allowances and Pension anomalies?

With Best Wishes

Air Marshal S Y Savur PVSM AVSM (retd)

Cell: - +91 9449676278

5 Attachments

Preview attachment 61820 MODEF Request Cab Sec Report Details.pdf

Preview attachment 61820 Reply & Addl Payment & Appeal.doc

Preview attachment 60517 MoF DoE Request.pdf

Preview attachment FAA Orders MoD and MoF.pdf

Preview attachment Replies to First Appeals by MoD and MoF for blog.doc

More Twists in the Rank Pay Tales

It appears that CGDA or Def (Fin) or whoever reportedly provided the inputs to the MoD for filing a status report in Contempt Petition (C) No. 328 of 2013 needs education.

It appears, and I have not yet seen the status report, the wise CGDA has re-fixed the pay on transition from 3rd to 4th CPC at a lower amount than was being drawn by each rank on 31 Dec 1985!

More when I have correct information requested from the MoD in a RTI. 

Update of 10 Mar 15 - Payment of NFU - DOP & T's Response

In reply to RTI request  (DOP&T/R/2015/60017) and Appeal (DOP&T/A/2015/60046) for the budgeted amounts for FY 2009-10 to 2013-14 and actual expenditure/disbursement on Non-Functional Upgradation,  the CPIO and FAA of DOP & T state that Deptt does not maintain such records though it is the Deptt that issues orders for payment of NFU.

Now, the Deptt of Expenditure has transferred within 2 days the query vide DOEXP/R/2015/60136 dated 9 Mar 2015 on the same subject to Deptt of Economic Affairs as DOEAF/R/2015/80088.

Satyam Ev Jayate

O R O P - Update 01 Mar 15

MOD File approved by RM is with MoF for the past week or 10 days.

The tweets from RM and Col Rathore (retd) will support this info.

Best Wishes