Tuesday 27 September 2016

Baat hain Maan, Samman, aur Maryada ki




          The Hon’ble Raksha Mantri said a few weeks ago about going to Pakistan is like going to hell.



          In his monthly broadcast Mann ki Baat on 25 Sep 16, the Hon’ble Prime Minister is quoted, (in The Hindu, 26 Sep 16) as saying, “I pay tributes to our 18 soldiers who lost their lives in the Uri attack. This cowardly act was enough to shake the country. It has not only left the people mourning but has also infuriated them. The loss of our soldiers is a national loss…..”

   

The substance of the Hon’ble PM’s speech and the Hon’ble RM’s comment is in sharp contrast with emptiness of the actual situation now brought to the headlines by Chiefs requesting MoD to delay in implementation of  7th CPC recommendations (as amended).



We have seen, heard, and read about sacrifices by serving members of our Army, Navy and Air Force and proof provided by Veterans who have lost limbs, and Widows of soldiers, sailors, and airmen who have served India and sacrificed their lives. It will be in the headlines of newspapers for a couple of days. The deaths will earn more TRPs proportionate to the loudness and harshness of the language of the anchor on prime time news programmes and Veterans who sputter with rage and far less coherence etc. Then they will move onto some other ‘breaking news.’ The deaths and sacrifices will be forgotten till the next lot of deaths.  



But hell for Armed Forces personnel and Veterans and widows of Armed Forces personnel is closer home. How and what will the families of 18 live on, henceforth? It will be a pittance when compared to the fact that the 18 made the supreme sacrifice and the 19 nearly made that supreme sacrifice.



Did the deaths of many  Armed Forces personnel shake up the officials in MoD and Def (Fin) in South Block, and in ‘B’ Wing of Sena Bhawan, and in the office of CGDA on Ulan Bator Marg, and the office of PCDA (P) in Draupadi Ghat etc to stop them creating hell for Armed Forces personnel, Veterans and Widows? Will these 18 deaths shake them up now?



Let us take the case of those 18 (and other) deceased personnel. Their families will get 60% (of the deceased Armed Forces personnel’s) last pay drawn as Special Family Pensions (SFP), if the above named officials do not write on files that the soldiers were sleeping in temporary accommodation and hence should not get full benefit, after the papers are processed and crawl through the labyrinths of the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) and various departments, and then cross the Raj path (avoiding traffic or being stopped for a VVIP/VIP convoy) to the North Block for the Ministry of (MOF) to give its concurrence. So, the life of the Armed Forces personnel who died fighting terrorists has been devalued by 40%!



As for those injured, depending on the extent of their injuries and medical consequences, they will be sanctioned disability benefits of varying percentages, but only if some one in the above mentioned offices does NOT decide that his personal medical knowledge is better than that of the Armed Forces doctors and lowers the disability benefits. And again ironically, the Disability Act 1995 does not apply to Armed Forces personnel because they retire before that hallowed age of 60 years!



The hell that Armed Forces personnel face from ‘friendly fire’ (what else can it be termed as?) is not known to Bharatvasis because serving members of the Armed Forces NEVER complain about the long hours of duty required to ensure the integrity of this Nation. They NEVER complain that they have to fight with poor weapons produced by our Ordnance Factories or when rifles misfire when they face terrorists. They NEVER complain about the heavy but less effective bullet proof jackets because some one sitting in the air-conditioned rooms in the above named buildings take their time ‘processing’ files. They NEVER complain that they are working in submarines where the poor quality of batteries has led to fires and deaths due to poisonous fumes. They NEVER complain that they have to fly aeroplanes which have many components that do not work (and placed on the Concessions list!) and other aeroplanes that lack the basic search and rescue equipment which the recent case of the missing An-32 has brought out. They NEVER complained that slow or lack of decisions by the civilians employed in MoD led to the Pulgaon blasts that killed Armed Forces personnel and civilian fire-fighters. 



Bharatvasis should know, unlike what the learned Chairman of the 7th CPC said that canteen facilities, entitled (not free) rations are given even to the Central Armed Police Forces. Bharatvasis and Chairman of 7th CPC might have read of the Sanskriti School run by wives of the All India Services Officers (IAS, IFS, IPS and IFoS) for their children. Bharatvasis may not know, like the Chairman 7th CPC may not too, that Sanskriti is funded by the profits of the Armed Forces Canteens but not from the CAPF canteens.



Personnel of the Armed Forces are not permitted to have unions to represent them to ask the Ministry of Defence what more should they sacrifice over and above their lives to be treated with dignity by the Govt of India? They cannot walk into the office of the Raksha Mantri to register their anguish, like 16 Joint Secretaries did in the Home Ministry to place their grievances before the Home Minister.



The widows of officers, soldiers, sailors, and airmen who gave their youth for India, and for us, ask what more should they sacrifice than the lives of their husbands to get more than 30% of the last pay drawn as an Ordinary Family Pension (OFP) being granted now. They ask how do we ensure the future of our children who have to be brought up and educated to stand on their feet on a smaller percentage of the last pay drawn of their late husbands? The late husband may have dropped his children by scooter (and saved school bus fares), while earning 20% more than the widow’s pension, besides other things including earning an additional income, working as Security guard (Rs 5000-7000 per month) or a Security supervisor (Rs 7000-10,000 per month).  How is the widow expected to supplement her income? By stitching clothes on the sewing machine provided by welfare organisations when it is cheaper to buy the similar clothes online?  



The Veterans who lead disabled lives ask how do we fight legal battles in Courts (RM's Committee of Experts report has not been heard of after it was submitted) when they cannot afford even the travel expenditure while the MoD uses services of Govt’s law officers even if the Armed Forces Tribunal awards a benefit of Rs 300/ p.m to the disabled? The Veterans, many are with one leg, one hand, one eye, and some with bullets inside their bodies because surgeons say they will die if they operate because the bullet(s) is/are too close to a vital organ like the heart or lungs, even the brain ask, “What else should we sacrifice for this Nation so that we get a reasonable quality of life, medical aid of a reasonable standard, and assistance for our families?” This, Honourable Citizens of India, is the hell that is closer at home.



Lest this is construed as another Veteran’s sentimental rant, please peruse a few examples from Court orders, and from file notings.



Case of One Widow



          In 2010, Smt Pushpavanti approached the Honourable Supreme Court (Writ Petition (Civil) No. 291 of 2010) praying for better pension than the pittance she was being paid. The MoD fielded then Attorney General for India (May his soul rest in peace) and then Solicitor General of India to defend itself. After a stinging rebuke by the Honourable Bench who also gave a temporary relief of constituting an Armed Forces Grievance Redress Commission and to take instructions from the Govt for setting up a separate Pay Commission for Armed Forces. It was a fleeting hope of “achhe din,” because the Hon’ble Court recalled its order.



          So, the Armed Forces personnel and Veterans, and widows were back at where they started – at the not so tender mercies of the MoD.  



Delay and Aborted Denial of Court granted Benefits



          On 04 Jul 2003, a Division Bench of the Hon’ble High Court of Kerala dismissed the Writ Appeal (No. 518 of 1998) in UoI vs Maj A K Dhanapalan and upheld the order of a Single Judge restoring amount Rank Pay deducted by the MoD in refixation of Pay. Instead of paying Maj Dhanapalan, the Deptt of Expenditure advised MoD “to take a chance for filing a Special Leave Petition” on 06 Aug 2004 in the Hon’ble Supreme Court. The SLP (No. 5908 of 2005) was dismissed at the first hearing by the Hon’ble Court on 12 Jul 2005. The advice of MoF was inspite of the Addl Solicitor General advising against filing the SLP.    

 

          On 04 Sep 2012, the Honourable Supreme Court awarded restoration of rank pay which was deducted in 1986 onwards for re-fixation of the pay of officers of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The Hon’ble Court also directed that the benefit of its order be extended to all eligible officers whether or not they had approached the Hon’ble Courts, Armed Forces Tribunals etc (Interlocutory Application No. 9 of 2010 in Transfer Petition (Civil) No. 56 of 2007). The Solicitor General (now a Hon’ble Judge of the Supreme Court) opined on 31 Oct 2012 that the Govt should comply with the order in letter and spirit.



But Deptt of Exp, MoF’s habit die hard. Then Deputy Secretary in the Department of Expenditure, MoF, asked why the Court’s order should not be implemented only for Army officers because the majority of the litigants were from the Army. Obviously, contrary to the opinion of the Solicitor General, the Dy Secy had his own interpretation of the order of the Hon’ble Court and his intent to deny benefits to the Armed Forces personnel was proved beyond doubt [MoD File No. 34 (6)/2012 – D (Pay/Services) Note no. 18 Para 3 (c) dated 9 Nov 2012].        



Delay in Pension Orders for Armed Forces Veterans and Widows



Before 1.1.2006, if you served for 33 years you were given full pension. If you served less than 33 years, your pension was divided by number of year of service divided by 33 years. For example if pension for 33 years was Rs 33000 and the Govt employee worked for 22 years he would get Rs 22000. The Supreme Court upheld the appeal of a retired civilian employee that he should get full pension which is 50% of his last drawn pay.  



Govt of India issued orders on 6th April 2016 for restoration of pension for retired civilian employees deleting the pro-rata deduction of pension of those who have served more than 20 years but less than 33 years and Ministry of Defence issued similar on 8th April 2016 for restoration of pension for retired Defence civilian employees.



But till the date of this paper, the orders for retired Armed Forces soldiers, sailors, airmen, and officers deleting the pro-rata deduction of pension of those who have served more than 20 years but less than 33 years have not been issued because “the matter is under inter-ministerial consultation” replies the Joint Secretary in the Deptt of Ex-Servicemen Welfare.



Convoluted Logic on Disability Benefits for Veterans

 

7th Central Pay Commission (7th CPC) has decided and recommended to the Govt that disability benefits for 100% disability should be restricted to Rs 27000 for disabled officers, Rs 17000 for disabled Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and Rs 12000 for disabled soldiers/sailors/airmen of the ranks of Havildars, Naiks and Lance Naiks (called Other Ranks or ORs).



The reasons given by the 7th CPC, perhaps on the advice of an IDAS officer who was member of the Pay Commission’s Secretariat, is that about 20% of the officers awarded disability benefits are senior officers like Colonels, Brigadiers, Major Generals and Lieutenant Generals who continue to serve till their ages of retirement whereas only 7.2% of JCOs and ORs awarded disability benefits continue to serve till their retirement ages.



The country will be unhappy to note that the 20% are actually about 2000 senior officers who are in strategic, tactical planning and decision making roles or have had expertise from specialised training paid by the State, whereas the 7.2% are 95000 JCOs and ORs who have faced bullets and improvised explosive devices of terrorists, anti-nationals and insurgents. Due to those stresses they may be suffering from hypertension, diabetes, partial loss of hearing (being too close to artillery guns without ear defenders whose purchase awaits concurrence of Def (Fin) and much more – all attributable and/or aggravated due to military service.   



The 7th CPC did not consider it fit to consider how the Army, Navy, and Air Force can invalided out 2000 officers or 95000 JCOs and ORs, in addition to about 800 officers who superannuate and 55000 JCOs/ORs who retire or complete their terms of engagement every year.



The 7th CPC did not ask the Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services reasons for such large number of officers, JCOs and ORs continuing in Armed Forces with disabilities but relied on the statistic supplied by Controller General of Defence Accounts to punish the Armed Forces by lowering the amount of disability benefits. After stating that it is being done for equity and justice!



Irrationality of an Incentive to Serve Govt of India anywhere in India



The unfairness will become evident to Honourable Members when we read in the 7th CPC Report the recommendation that IAS, IFS, IPS and Indian Forest Services Officers [All India Services – (AIS)] are to be paid 30% of their Basic Pay as incentive for volunteering to serve in Ladakh or in Assam and other north-eastern States of the Union of India. The basic pay of these officers will be between Rs 56, 100 and Rs 2, 25, 000 and the incentive could range from Rs 15, 480 to Rs 67, 500.



On the other hand, Armed Forces officers serving in the Siachen glacier are recommended to be paid Rs 31, 500 and JCOs/ORs will be paid Rs 21, 000 per month. They will get no incentive to serve in Ladakh, Assam or the north-eastern States of the Union of India! Ironically, an AIS officer will be rewarded 30% of his pay for agreeing to the serve his employer, the Govt of India, in Ladakh, Assam etc where the danger of dying from terrorist attacks is lesser!



In Conclusion



The Government of India is the true and actual Civil Authority. The Armed Forces personnel as well as civilian government employees, whether from the IAS or IPS or Organised Group A services like the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS) are accountable to the Govt. The honourable Govt must demand that the IAS, IDAS etc do not usurp authority, and sanction for themselves some benefits and concessions while denying the Armed Forces personnel, Veterans and Widows the same set of benefits and concessions misquoting it as supremacy of Civilian Authority.



Baat hain Maan, Samman, aur Maryada ki



Jai Hind

Sunday 18 September 2016

Why Is Military Service Pay Ignored & Other Issues - Updated






Forgetting Military Service Pay In a Predilection for Rank Pay & Other Issues





Mr Parrikar said. “The Service Chiefs know that I am using all the
strength at my command to find a way out. You must understand that I got the gazette notification announcing the 7th Pay Commission amended to make sure the military retains its edge over the Central Armed Police Forces. Such a step has never been taken (to amend a gazette notification),” he pointed out.



He asserted that at least three of the four major anomalies over which the Service HQs are perturbed will be taken care of very soon. They are: 1. The entry level pay suppression in the middle ranks; 2. Non-functional Upgrade (NFU) and 3. Enhancement of Military Service Pay (MSP) for JCOs.



- Courtesy BharatShakti.in



Justice A K Mathur, Chairman of the 7th CPC wrote, “Shri D. K. Rai, a young officer from Accounts and Finance stream who had a deep insight into the financial matters especially, the defence. His knowledge about defence finance has been of great help to this Commission in determining the pay structure for the defence forces. He is a young man and holds a long career before him and his insight into the financial intricacies of the pay structure of the defence service will take him to great height. I wish him great success, a bright future awaits him (emphasis supplied).

- Courtesy Report of the 7th CPC



Background



Like the lyrics of the song from Sound of Music, ‘let’s start at the very beginning, the very best place to start.’ No, not from A, B, C, but from MSP (Military Service Pay). By ignoring it for calculating the Defence Pay Matrix, due to some unexplained reason, its domain knowledge expert & IDAS officer and the 7th CPC have inflicted the gravest injustice on the Armed (Defence) Forces.   



MSP related discrepancies in the Defence Forces Pay Matrix



SAI/SNI/SAFI 1/S/2008, 2/S/2008 and 3/S/2008 issued by MoD, with concurrence of Def (Fin) and MoF (Deptt of Expenditure) has the following definitions: -



3. (g) “Military Service Pay (MSP)” is as defined in the Entry at S No. 2 in Annexure – 2 Part – A of the Government of India Resolution No. 1 (30)/2008/D (Pay/Services) dated 30.08.2008 published in Gazette of India Extraordinary Part I, Section III vide SRO 1 (E) dated 30.08.2008 (hereinafter called Resolution). MSP will be treated as pay for all purposes except for computation of increments and determination of status. The financial benefit of MSP will be admissible from 01.09.2008. It will not count for fixation of pay at the time of promotion except in the case of in the case of promotion from Brigadier to Major General.

    

3. (h) (i) “Revised Pay Structure” in relation to rank/post specified in column of tables at Para 4 (a) below means the Pay Band, Grade Pay and the MSP (if any) specified in columns (5), (6), and (7) of the said tables unless a revised pay band and grade pay of pay scale is notified separately for that post.



 And



3. (j) “Revised emolumentsmeans the pay in the pay band plus the grade pay and MSP of the officer in the revised pay structure and includes the revised Non-Practicing Allowance, if any, admissible to him, in addition.  



          (Underlined by author)



          There are identical definitions for JCOs and ORs in SAI/SNI/SAFI 1/S/2008



Some ill-informed persons have espoused the Artificial Depression of Pay to the extent of Rank Pay (Contempt Petition (C) No. 328 of 2013 dismissed on 18 Aug 2015) without considering a more serious aspect of ignoring the MSP.

 

In other words the Entry Pay for the Defence Pay Matrix of the 7th for all Ranks should, in the words of MoD issued SAI/SNI/SAFI, comprise the Pay in the Pay Band, the Grade Pay, and the MSP. Further, if MSP is given a notional value for fixation of the pay of an Air Vice Mshl (Maj Gen & RAdm) on promotion from Air Cmde (Brig & Cmde), then what is the provision that precluded including MSP for re-fixation in the Defence Pay matrix? 



Friedrich Nietzsche, the German philosopher wrote, “The most perfidious way of harming a cause consists of defending it deliberately with faulty arguments,” and domain knowledge expert has not paid heed to that. Why else would he either unintentionally or otherwise betray that (lack of) expertise by not informing the 7th CPC of this fact from a Def (Fin) and MoF (Deptt of Exp) approved and MoD issued document that governed the Pay and Allowances of the Defence Forces?

     

An abbreviated table of the Entry Pay in the 6th CPC  from SAI 2/S/2008 and 3/S/2008 is placed below for ready reference: - 



Rank (and equivalent)
Pay in the Pay Band
Grade Pay
Military Service Pay
Total
Fg Offr
15600
5400
6000
27000
Flt Lt
18600
6100
6000
30700
Sqn Ldr
23810
6600
6000
36410
Wg Cdr
38530
8000
6000
52530
Gp Capt
40890
8700
6000
55590
Air Cmde
43390
8900
6000
58290
AVM
44700
10000
6000 (notional)
60700



In a classic case of cherry picking, the domain knowledge expert of the IDAS in the 7th CPC, decided to ignore Para 3 (g), (h) and (j) of the SAI/SNI/SAFI and taken only the Pay in the Pay Band and Grade Pay to determine fixation in the Defence Pay matrix as is evident from the extract of the relevant portion of the Report reproduced below: -



“General Approach to the Pay Matrices: Civil and Defence



5.2.3 Pay levels have been set out in a pay matrix, separately for civilian and defence forces personnel. The Commission has evolved a fresh approach by merging the grade pay and pay bands into distinct pay levels. The approach regarding the pay levels and pay matrix has been explained in Chapter 5.1. Some of the major points in the pay matrix which have a common bearing on civilian and defence forces personnel are highlighted below.



5.2.4 Pay Bands and Grade Pay: Pay Bands and Grade Pays have been dispensed with and the new functional levels have been arrived at by merging the Grade Pay in the Pay Band. All the existing levels have been subsumed in the new structure.



5.2.5 Entry Pay: The entry pay for various ranks of defence forces personnel, other than MNS Officers, has been arrived at on the same premise, as has been done in the case of civilian. As an illustration, entry pay for a Captain has been arrived at as follows:



Entry pay in existing pay band + (Residency Period for promotion to Captain from Lieutenant x annual increment) + grade pay of the rank of Captain = 15,600 + (2 x 630) + 6,100 = 22,960.



5.2.6 An exception to this approach has been made in the case of Brigadiers/equivalents where pay for the rank has been arrived at as per the fitment table notified by the Ministry of Defence through its Special Army Instructions of October 2008(emphasis supplied). 



So, the actual figures in the Defence Pay Matrix, if MSP was included, should have been reading something like this: -



JCOs/ORs




From SAI/SNI/SAFI of 2008
7th CPC report
Rank
Pay in the Pay Band
Grade Pay
Military Service Pay
Total
Multiply by RF
Entry Pay
Pay in the Matrix
AC
5200
2000
2000
9200
23600*
8460
21700
Cpl
7650
2400
2000
12050
31000
9910
25500
Sgt
9040
2800
2000
13840
35600
11360
29200
JWO
10520
4200
2000
16720
43000
13500
35400
WO
13320
4600
2000
19920
51200
17140
44900
MWO
14350
4800
2000
21150
54400
18150
47600



(* Close to what is demanded by the Unions and Associations of civilian employees.)



Officers (upto Maj Gen)




From SAI/SNI/SAFI of 2008
7th CPC report
Rank
Pay in the Pay Band
Grade Pay
Military Service Pay
Total
Multiply by RF
Entry Pay
Pay in the Matrix
Fg Offr
15600
5400
6000
27000
72100
21000
56100
Flt Lt
18600
6100
6000
30700
82000
22960
61300
Sqn Ldr
23810
6600
6000
36410
97200
25980
69400
Wg Cdr
38530
8000
6000
52530
135000
45400
116700
Gp Capt
40890
8700
6000
55590
142900
48900
125700
Air Cmde
43390
8900
6000
58290
155600
52290
139600
AVM
44700
10000
6000 (notional)
60700
165100
53000
144200



Higher MSP for JCOs



          With its repeated emphasis on equity and justice (please read these two being emphasised by 7th CPC in Chapter 10.2), it appears that the weakness in the alleged expertise has once again been exposed.



7th CPC states that a common multiplication or rationalisation factor of 2.57 having been used, the MSP of JCOs and ORs has been increased from Rs 2000 pm to Rs 5200 pm. The ‘expert’ perhaps forgot to inform that both JCOs and equivalents are also Group ‘B’ Officers.



If the MNS officers, who are also Gp ‘B,’ are entitled to Rs 10800 as MSP, then the much stated equity and justice demands that the JCOs (who are combatants) should also be paid the same MSP as MNS officers, who are Gp ‘B’ officers.  That would be equity and justice, the reason adduced by 7th CPC elsewhere in its report.     



Why Notional MSP for AVM and above is required



As Georg Hegel, another German philosopher, pointed out, ‘We learn from history that we never learn from history.” The domain knowledge expert in the 7th CPC appears to have ignored that, again.



In the 6th CPC dispensation with fixation tables prepared by O/o CGDA probably and vetted by IDAS officers of the CGDA and Def (Fin) and concurred by Deptt of Exp, MoF, the Pay band for Air Cmde was stipulated as Rs 37400-67000 with Grade Pay Rs 8900 and MSP Rs 6000. So at the top of the pay band (and there are 38 Air Cmde & equivalents today) the Air Cmde (and equivalent) today earns Rs 67000+8900+6000 = Rs 81900. This is higher than what an AVM (Rs 67000), Air Mshl (HAG+, Rs 75500-80000) or AOC-in-C (Apex scale, fixed Rs 80, 000) and their equivalents earn!      



          A cursory look at the Pay in the Pay Matrix for Air Cmde & equivalent reveals that his total remuneration in the 7th CPC regime including MSP of Rs 15, 500 will be Rs 2, 05,000 whereas an AVM & equivalent will be paid Rs 1, 99, 000. Isn’t that turning on its head the principle that a senior officer must not be paid less than his junior? Just look at the table below: -



Rank
Brig/Cmde/
Air Cmde
Brig/Cmde/
Air Cmde
Para 3 of SAI
Brig/Cmde/
Air Cmde with MSP of Rs 15500
Maj Gen/RAdm/AVM
Pay in Pay Band (PB)
43390
43390
43390
53000
Grade Pay (GP)
8900
8900
8900
10000
MSP
-
6000
-
-
Total
52290
6000
52290
63000
Level
13A
58290
13A
14
Increment/yr
3%
3%
3% of PB + GP
3%
Rationalisation
2.67
2.67
2.67
2.72
Index 1
139600
155600
155100
144200
2
143800

159300
148500
3
148100

163600
153000
4
152600

168100
157600
5
157100

172600
162300
6
161900

184600
167200
7
166700

182200
172200
8
171700

187200
177400
9
176900

192400
182700
10
182200

197700
188200
11
187600

203100
193800
12
193300

208800
199600
13
199100

214600
205600
14
205000

220500
211800
15
211200

226700
218200
16
217500

233000
-



Index of Rationalisation



7th CPC Report states at 5.2.9, “As noted in Chapter 5.1, dealing with the Civilian pay matrix, marked increase was accorded to directors in the GP 8700 at the stage of implementation of the VI CPC Report. Accordingly in the matrix the rationalisation index applied at this level has been fixed at 2.57, lower than the index of 2.67 applied to existing PB-3 officers. A similar formulation has necessarily to be applied to the defence pay matrix since the Lieutenant Colonels also received a marked increase in their pay level, post VI CPC recommendations. Since the defence services have an additional level in the existing PB-4 and there is a common pay level for SAG level officers in Defence and Civil, the Commission has applied the rationalisation index of 2.57 also to the officers in the rank of Colonel and Brigadier and their equivalent(emphasis supplied).



The rationalisation factor has been increased from 2.57 to 2.67 for Air Cmdes (Brigs). Therefore, as the Gp Capt (Colonel/Capt IN) and Air Cmde (Brig/Cmde) are clubbed together, equity would be ensured, and justice would deem to have been done, if the rationalisation factor of Gp Capt (Colonel/Capt IN) is also raised to 2.67.



Stagnation of JCOs/ORs



          The 7th CPC has recommended continuation of Minimum Assured Career Progression (MACP) in three stages on completion of 8, 16, and 24 years of service or 8 years in one rank for ORs. This and the 24 indices are supposedly adequate to fend off the looming threat of stagnation. But fixated with lesser indices for Lt Cols, Cols and Brigs, the spotlight has moved away from the stagnation of JCOs and ORs. There are certain trades that are later entrant and start directly from the rank of Sgts (Hav & Petty Officers) and not promoted from Corporal (Cpl) on completion of 13 years of service. They go on to serve up to 57 years of age. For them, the 24 indices (stages) in the Defence Pay Matrix are inadequate, will ensure that they will stagnate in the ranks of JWO/Nb Sub/CPO, WO/Sub/MCPO-II, and MWO/Sub Maj/MCPO-I.    



          So in the deafening clamour for removal of stagnation for Lt Cols, Cols and Brigs (since corrected by addition or 3, 3, and 2 indices (stages), will there be a request to the Govt to increase the indices (stages) to at least 36 indices (stages) for JCOs?



Notional NFU



          Any Govt employee or officer (civilian or Armed Forces) cannot draw pay lower than his junior, right? Not in the 7th CPC’s Pay Matrix for Civilians!



For a living example, with NFU, a Org Gp ‘A’ MES officer who is not a CWE or a CE in Level 13A (Grade Pay Rs 8900) has been granted a Grade Pay of Rs 10, 000 with the result that his emoluments in the Civil Pay matrix of 7th CPC will need to be reckoned in Level 14 i.e equivalent to that of a Joint Secretary/AVM.



          Therefore, again in the interest of equity and justice, there is an imperative for a notional, if not actual, NFU for a correct transition from the 6th CPC pay band and Grade pay for Wg Cdr/Lt Col/Cdr from the 20 years of service and above, if his course-mates have been considered and promoted to Gp Capt/Col/Capt IN in the 16th year and he has exhausted his three chances. In the present form, of not granting even a notional NFU, a passed over Wg Cdr/Lt Col/Cdr is poorer by about Rs 5500 p.m in comparison with a Gp A civilian officer with similar number of years of service.



In Conclusion



Perhaps that immense faith in the domain knowledge expertise of the IDAS officer appears to have clouded the eagle eyes of the Chairman, and Shri Vivek Rae, Member 7th CPC when it came to reading the above quoted SAI/SNI/SAFI. If Shri Rae could quote chapter and verse and an Honourable Supreme Court ruling in support of his parent service, the IAS, how did he miss reading the SAIs/SNIs/SAFIs? Does that now bring attention to the fact that Armed Forces need to be represented not only in the CPC but also in the Anomalies Committees as MoD’s officers have proved their lack of true domain knowledge!



P.S:  As IDAS has been trying to get rid of the Accounts Branch of the IAF and Lt Gen Shekatkar Committee, (without an Air Force member?), has asked the IAF/Accounts Branch to justify its existence, one can imagine the fate of the Armed Forces.



Again, for equity, justice and respecting traditions of Service, I hope the Lt Gen will also peruse the entrance educational qualifications. Entry into the IAF’s Accounts branch requires applicant to have B.Com. from a Recognized University with minimum 60% marks (aggregate, all papers put together) or PG Degree (M.Com)/CA/ICWA from a Recognized University with minimum 50% aggregate marks (all papers put together) and whereas for IDAS a graduate degree in any subject will do (emphasis supplied). 



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