Disability benefits for pre-2006 pensioners-Vijay Mohan Tribune News Service : Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Disability benefits for pre-1996 pensioners.

Vijay Mohan:Tribune News Service.

Chandigarh, January 31.Following the recommendations of

the Committee of Secretaries, the government has partially

modified regulations for disability pension and extended

benefit of broad-banding of disability percentage to those

invalided out of serviceprior to January 1996.The cap on

war injury pension, restricting the same to themaximum

of last drawn emoluments for personnel invalided out in

Category ‘E’, also stands removed. The orders to this effect

were issued by the Ministry of Defence on January 19 after

financial sanction for the same was accorded earlier this

month.The benefits of broad-banding of disability

percentage and removing the cap on war injury pension

were recommended by the Sixth Pay Commission. These

were, however, extended only to those invalided out of

service in1996 or after, thereby putting similarly placed

persons left service earlier at a disadvantage.While the

partial modification has been welcomed by veterans as

a positive development,some officers and legal experts

point out that the benefits have been extended only to

those individuals, who were invalided out of service and

not to those who retired on completion of their terms of

engagement.

In the case, Paramjit Singh Vs Union of India, the Punjab

and Haryana High Court, has alreadyheld this disparity

to be arbitrary.

Regulations now themselves provide that for the purposes

of disability pension, persons placed in low medical

category at the time of retirement are deemed to be invalided

out of service.The different treatment between invalided and

superannuating personnel, according to lawyers dealing in

the pensionary matters, seems strangein view of the fact that

broad-banding or rounding-off disability percentage was

introduced to curb medical subjectivity because it was felt

that different medical boards were providing different

percentages of disability for similar ailments.

Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Mob.098554-09128,Tele-fax 0175-5000896.

The govt.sleeps while the sadists take the system for a ride -Navdeep :Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Dear Veterans,
Regards.Maj.Navdeep has posted the following onhis
blog.Our organisation fully endosres his views and I
request all otherwelfare organisations of veterans to
take same stand. The legal pundits are bent upon
crushing the pensioners, particulary, the veterans
and their dependents. We will have to take a boldstand
against this injustice being done to us all. We should
stand united and pay heed to the clarion call given by
Maj. Navdeep.Sunday, January 31, 2010
The gameplan of legal pundits :
The govt sleeps while sadists take the system for
a ride
You may have read this on the blog before.
All is fair in love and war they say, and the same seems
to be the battle-cry of the Central Government against
its retired employees.So what is it that the people in
officialdom have against disabled veterans and
pensioners ?The last months have seen the Union of
India filing appeals and SLPs in almostevery decision
of the Hon’ble Courts allowing disability pension to
disabled veterans. The same is the story with other
pensionary matters. I feel ashamed in saying this but
while the lawyers make hay, former soldiers and their
families suffer in silence.It is turning out to be sickening
now. And this is to say the least.Law has now been
well settled by the Courts includingthe Hon’ble
Supreme Court on certain issues, but the legal advisors
of the government are in no mood to relent. Even when
High Courts (and now benches of the AFT) are deciding
matters with well-rounded decisions based on settled
law and principlesof equity, the central govt continues
to mindlessly file appeals before the Supreme Court.
The govt also continues to refuse benefits to veterans
in settled issues till the time individual casesare filed
separately by pensioners. One such glaring example
discussed before is disability pension to voluntary
retirees. Despite the fact that the Supreme Court has
upheld the right ofvoluntary retirees to receive
disability pension, the Union of India continues to
fileappeals against decisions of High Courts granting
such benefits to affected disabled personnel. Another
very recent and shocking example is SLP No 688 of
2010 filed by the Central Govt before the Supreme
Court which was listed for hearing on 25th of January,
2010. The case involved the improvedpensionary
benefits granted to PBOR wef 10-10-1997 after
removing the anomalies of the 5th CPC. The Hon’ble
Punjab & Haryana High Court had earlier in the year
2008 held that such benefits had to be granted to
affected personnel with effect from01-01-1996 (and not
10-10-1997) since the anomaly had to be rectified
from the date of its inception and not from some other
prospective artificial date. The High Court had hence
held personnel who retired between 01-01-1996 to
10-10-1997 also entitled to the enhanced benefits. The
Union of India, as expected, challenged the verdict
before the Hon’ble Supreme Court through an SLP but
the same was dismissed on merits on 21-11-2008.
So far, so good, but what is shameful is that fully
knowing that the law was now settled by the Apex
Court and that the Central Govt.had itself rectified
this anomaly through the anomalies committee,
another SLP (the above mentioned 688 of 2010)
was filed by them this new year against another such
decision by the same High Court and the same has
again been dismissed by the Apex Court on
25-01-2010. I bet the Hon’ble Supreme Court would
not have been informed in the fresh SLP of the
earlier dismissal of an exactly similar case in the
year 2008.It is high time that the Defence Minister,
the military top brass and the Defence Secretary take
a call on this mindless one sided ego basedlitigation
which, besides leading to burdening judicial fora,is
also leading to burden on the State and demoralisation
of rank and file. Nobody stands to gain except probably
the battery of lawyers appearing for the Union of India.
It also seems that power has been concentrated in the
hands of a few officers dealing with pensionary and
legal matters who have spent quite a few years in the
corridors of the Services Headquarters & the Ministry
and decisions of filing appeals are thrust upon the top
brass without due judiciousness or sensitivity
concerning the issues at hand. This must change. A
letter recently marked to the Defence Minster by a an
ex-services welfare organisation aptly describes the rot:
“Lower staff at the Pension wing of the Defence Ministry
is also known to prepare misleading and deceptive
noting sheetswhich are put up to senior officers and
even the Raksha Mantri, who in good faith affix their
initials leaving the gallery open to such officers who
then flaunt the said approvals by stating that the same
have the sanction of the Defence Minister. It is also
learnt that the officers in the Defence Ministry have
asked Govt.lawyers in writing to change their legal
opinion when such lawyers had advised against filing
of appeals.”What is the game behind this, one may ask.
Well, the govt is well aware that disabled veterans and
poor pensioners do not have adequate financial
back-up to defend their cases in the Supreme Court,so
for the govt it is well worth taking a chance. I can only
say that in the interest of equity and fair-play, we all
must wakeup before some officers take the entire
defence services and the legal system for a royal ride.
It is also time for senior staff of theMinistry and our
uniformed officers to apply proper mindbefore they
permit their subordinates to resort to unethical
litigation against poor people who have served the
nation to the best of their abilities. The hint of my
call is particularlydirected towards the upper
echelons of Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare in
the MoD and the Personnel ServicesDirectorate in the
Army Headquarters. The tendency to view poor
litigants as ‘Enemies of the State’ must also change.

Pension rates likely to be granted to Pre-2006 veterans: Vet. Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Dear Veterans,

Regards.

Find below the pension rates likely to be granted by the

Government for Pre- 2006 Sepoy to N/ Sub. group

‘B’ after implementation of Modified Parity Pension.

This is un-authenticated data. Please do not discuss

much about this.

Sep. 15 yrs. Rs. 4523/- 20 yrs. Rs. 5473/-

TS NK / Hony. NK. 15 yrs. Rs. 4634/- 20 yrs. Rs. 5642/-

NK. 15 yrs. Rs. 4635/- 20 yrs. Rs. 5643/-

NK. ( Hony. Hav) 15 yrs. Rs. 4594/- 20 yrs. Rs. 5607/-

Hav. 15 yrs. Rs. 4595/- 20 yrs. Rs. 5608/-

Hav.( Hony. Nb. Sub.) 15 yrs. Rs. 5273/- 20 yrs. Rs. 6367/-

Nb. Sub. 15 yrs. Rs. 5274/- 20 yrs. Rs. 6368/-

Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Mob:098554-09128 Tele-fax: 0175-5000896

Letter of the MoD and response by IESL Punjab & Chandigarh: Vet. Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Revision of Disability /War Injury Element of Pension:Veteran Prabhjot Singh PLS Retd.

Dear veterans ,
Regards.Find below a copy of letter regarding Disability/
War Injury Element of Pension.
No.10 (01)/D (Pen/Pol)/2009/Vol.IIGovernment of India,
Ministry of Defence,
Department of Ex-Servicemen WelfareNew Delhi
Dated 19th Jan, 2010.
To
The Chief of the Army Staff
The Chief of the Naval Staff
The Chief of the Air Staff

Subject: Revision of Disability/War Injury Element of pension
in respect of Armed Forces Officers and PBOR pensioners
based on the recmmendations of Cabinet Secretary Committee
Report.

Sir,
The undersigned is directed to state that the in order to
consider various issues on pension of Armed Forces
Pensioners, Government had set up a Committee headed by
the Cabinet Secretary. The reommendations of the said
Cabinet Secretary’s Committee on disability/war injury
pension have been considered by the Government and the
President is pleased to decide that with effect from 1.7.2009,
the concept of broad bandiing of percentage of disability/war
injury, as provided in Para 7.2 of this Ministry’s letter
No 1(2)/97/D(Pen-C) dated 31.01.2001, shall be extended to
Armed Forces Officers and PBOR who were invalided out of
service prior to 1.1.1996 and are in receipt of disability/war
injury pension as on 1.7.2009. Wherever, the disability being
accepted as less than 20% at initial stage or subsequent stage
on reassessment of disability, the same will continue to be
disallowed and such cases will not be re-opened.

2. Further, the President is also pleased to decide tht the
cap on war injury pension with reference to emoluments last
drawn in the case of disabled pensioners belonging to category
‘E’ of Para 4.1 of this Ministry’s above mentioned letter dated
31.1.2001, shall stand removed with effect from 1.7.2009 for
Armed Forces Officers and PBOR pensioners. The provision
contained in Para 8 of this Ministry’s letter No PC 1(2)97/
D(Pen-C) Dated 16.5.2001, Para 10.1(b). of this Ministry letter
No. 1(2)/97/D(Pen-C) dated 31.1.2001 and para 6.4 & 7.4 of
this Ministry’s letter No. 16(6)/2008(2)/D(Pen/Pol) dated
5.5.2009, shall stand modified to that extent.
3. The disability/war injury element of pension in all such
cases shall be recomputed accordingly under these orders
by the Pension Sanctioning Authorities (PSAs) concerned for
regulating payment under this Ministry’s letter No. 16(6)/
2008(1)/ D(Pen/Policy) dated 4.5.2009 and letter No. 16(6)/
2008(2)/D(Pen/Policy) dated 5.5.2009. For this purpose,
each affected Armed Forces pensioner who is in receipt of
disability/war injury element of pension as on 1.7.2009
will submit an application in the format enclosed as
Annexure to this letter to PSAs concerned for revision of
disability/war injury element of pension in terms of Para
1 and 2 above, as the case may be. Further implementation
instructions to all concerned will be issued by PCDA
(Pensions) Allahabad immediately on reeipt of these orders.

4. Revision of war injury element of pension in respect of
those who have been retired/discharged/invalidated out
of service on or after 1.7.2009 under category ‘E’ and in
whose case war injury pension has already been notified
in terms of this Ministry’s above mentioned letter dated
5.5.2009, will be carried out suo-moto by PSAs concerned
by issue of corrigendum PPOs without any application from
the concerned pensioners.

5. This issues with the concurrenc of Finance Division of
this Ministry vide their U.O.No. 51/Fin/Pen dated
08.01.2010.
Hindi versoin will follow.
Yours faithfully,
Sd xxx(Harbans Singh)Director (Pension Policy)
Encl: a/aCopy to : - As per standard distribution list.
----------
Annexure
(Referred to Para 3 of MOD letter No 10(1)/2009/D(Pen
/Policy) dated 19.1.2010)
FORM OF APPLICATION
(To be submitted IN TRIPLICATE by Armed Forces
disability pensioners invalided out prior to 1.1.1996 and
war injury pensioners invalidated prior to 1.7.2009 and
those released after 1.1.2008 but before 1.7.2009 and
drawing disability/war injury element of pension as on
1.7.2009)
To (Pension Disbursing Authority)
..........................................................................

Sub: Recomputation of disability/war injury element of
pension drawing pension as on 1.7.2009
Sir,
With a view to recompute my disability/war injury element of
pension in terms of Ministry of Defence letter No 10(1)/2009/
D(Pen/Policy) dated ........ 2009, the requisite particulars are
given below : -
1. Name of the pensioner
2. Rank/group and Regt No/IC No
3. Date of Enrolment/Commission
4. Date of invalidment
5. Type of pension admissible
6. PPO No/Corr.PPO No underwhichdisability/war injury
element of pensionon invalidment was notified.
7. Percentage of disability for whichdisability/war injury
element is being drawn as on 1.7.2009
8. Amount of existing disability/warinjury element being
drawn as on 1.7.2009
9. Amount of existing service element ofdisability/war
injury element being drawnas on 1.7.2009
10. Pension Disbursing Agency (Payingbank branch with
SB/Current A/c No/Treasury/DPDO/PAO
11. Name of applicant if the application isbeing made on
behalf of pensioner forLife-Time Arrears (LTA)
12. Address of the family pensioner/applicant
Date:
(Signature of Pensioner/Applicant)
..... 2
-2-
PART II
(To be completed by the PDA of the pensioner)
The particulars mentioned above are verified with
reference to pension account held and forwarded to the
Record Office .............................................. (full address) in
the case of PBOR and PSAs concerned ...............................
................ (full adress) in the case of commissioned officers.
No ......
Date .....

(SIGNATURE)Rubber stamp of Pension Disbursing Authority
PART III
(To be completed by the Record office of the pensioner)
Verified and forwarded to the PSAs concerned ..................
...............................(full address)
No ......
Date .....
(SIGNATURE)Rubber stamp of Pension Disbursing Authority
Address of Pension Sanctioning Authorities:
Army, Navy & Air Force Officers
1. The Principal Controller of Defence Accounts
(Pensions)Draupdighat, Allahabad – 211014.
For such Naval and Airforce officers who retired from
service on or after 1.11.1985
2. The Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Navy)
2, Cooper Road, Mumbai – 400039.
3. Jt Controller of Defence Accounts (AF)Subroto Park,
Delhi Cantt – 110010.



No.10 (01)/D (Pen/Pol)/2009/Vol.IIGovernment of India,
Ministry of Defence,
Department of Ex-Servicemen WelfareNew Delhi
Dated 19th Jan, 2010.
To,The Chief of the Army Staff
The Chief of the Naval Staff
The Chief of the Air Staff

Subject: Revision of Disability/War Injury Element of
pension in respect of Armed Forces Officers and PBOR
pensioners based on the recmmendations of Cabinet
Secretary Committee Report.

Sir,
The undersigned is directed to state that the in order to
considre various issues on pension of Armed Forces
Pensioners, Government had set up a Committee headed
by the Cabinet Secretary. The reommendations of the
said Cabinet Secretary’s Committee on disability/war
injury pension have been considered by the Government
and the President is pleased to decide that with effect
from 1.7.2009, the concept of broad bandiing of
percentage of disability/war injury, as provided in
Para 7.2 of this Ministry’s letter No 1(2)/97/D(Pen-C)
dated 31.01.2001, shall be extended to Armed Forces
Officers and PBOR who were invalided out of service
prior to 1.1.1996 and are in receipt of disability/war injury
pension as on 1.7.2009. Wherever, the disability being
accepted as less than 20% at initial stage or subsequent
stage on reassessment of disability, the same will
continue to be disallowed and such cases will not be
re-opened.

2. Further, the President is also pleased to decide the the
cap on war injury pension with reference to emoluments
last drawn in the case of disabled pensioners belonging
to category ‘E’ of Para 4.1 of this Ministry’s above mentioned
letter dated 31.1.2001, shall stand removed with effect from
1.7.2009 for Armed Forces Officers and PBOR pensioners.
The provision contained in Para 8 of this Ministry’s letter No
PC 1(2)97/D(Pen-C) Dated 16.5.2001, Para 10.1(b). of this
Ministry letter No. 1(2)/97/D(Pen-C) dated 31.1.2001 and
para 6.4 & 7.4 of this Ministry’s letter No. 16(6)/2008(2)/
D(Pen/Pol) dated 5.5.2009, shall stand modified to that
extent.
3. The disability/war injury element of pension in all such
cases shall be recomputed accordingly under these orders
by the Pension Sanctioning Authorities (PSAs) concerned
for rgulating payment under this Ministry’s letter No.
16(6)/2008(1)/ D(Pen/Policy) dated 4.5.2009 and letter
No. 16(6)/2008(2)/D(Pen/Policy) dated 5.5.2009. For this
purpose, each affected Armed Forces pensioner who is in
receipt of disability/war injury element of pension as on
1.7.2009 will submit an application in the format enclosed
as Annexure to this letter to PSAs concerned for revision of
disability/war injury element of pension in terms of Para 1
and 2 above, as the case may be. Further implementation
instructions to all concerned will be issued by PCDA
(Pensions) Allahabad immediately on reeipt of these orders.

4. Revision of war injury element of pension in respect of
those who have been retired/discharged/invalidated out
of service on or after 1.7.2009 under category ‘E’ and in
whose case war injury pension has already been notified in
terms of this Ministry’s above mentioned letter dated
5.5.2009, will be carried out suo-moto by PSAs concerned
by issue of corrigendum PPOs without any application
from the concerned pensioners.

5. This issues with the concurrenc of Finance Division of
this Ministry vide their U.O.No. 51/Fin/Pen dated 08.01.2010.
Hindi versoin will follow.
Yours faithfully,
Sd xxx(Harbans Singh)Director (Pension Policy)
Encl: a/aCopy to : - As per standard distribution list.
----------
Annexure
(Referred to Para 3 of MOD letter No 10(1)/2009/D(Pen/
Policy) dated 19.1.2010)
FORM OF APPLICATION
(To be submitted IN TRIPLICATE by Armed Forces
disability pensioners invalided out prior to 1.1.1996 and
war injury pesnioners invalided out prior to 1.7.2009 and
those released after 1.1.2008 but before 1.7.2009 and
drawing disability/war injury element of pension as on
1.7.2009)
To (Pension Disbursing Authority)
..........................................................................

Sub: Recomputation of disability/war injury element of
pension drawing pension as on 1.7.2009
Sir,
Wit a view to recompute my disability/war injury element
of pension in terms of Ministry of Defence letter No 10(1)/
2009/D(Pen/Policy) dated ........ 2009, the requisite
particulars are given below : -
1. Name of the pensioner
2. Rank/group and Regt No/IC No
3. Date of Enrolment/Commission
4. Date of invalidment
5. Type of pension admissible
6. PPO No/Corr.PPO No under which disability/war injury
element of pension on invalidment was notified.
7. Percentage of disability for whichdisability/war injury
element is beingdrawn as on 1.7.2009
8. Amount of existing disability/war injury element being
drawn as on 1.7.2009
9. Amount of existing service element ofdisability/war
injury element being drawnas on 1.7.2009
10. Pension Disbursing Agency (Payingbank branch with
SB/Current A/c No/Treasury/DPDO/PAO
11. Name of applicant if the application is being made on
behalf of pensioner for Life-Time Arrears (LTA)
12. Address of the family pensioner/applicant
Date:
(Signature of Pensioner/Applicant)
..... 2
-2-
PART II
(To be completed by the PDA of the pensioner)
The particulars mentioned above are verified with
reference to pension account held and forwarded to
the Record Office ..............................................
(full address) in the case of PBOR and PSAs
concerned ............................................... (full adress) in
the case of commissioned officers.
No ......
Date .....

(SIGNATURE)Rubber stamp of Pension Disbursing Authority
PART III
(To be completed by the Record office of the pensioner)
Verified and forwarded to the PSAs concerned ..................
...............................(full address)
No ......
Date .....
(SIGNATURE)Rubber stamp of Pension Disbursing Authority
Address of Pension Sanctioning Authorities:
Army, Navy & Air Force Officers
1. The Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions)
Draupdighat, Allahabad – 211014.
For such Naval and Airforce officers who retired from service
on or after 1.11.1985
2. The Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Navy)2,
Cooper Road, Mumbai – 400039.
3. Jt Controller of Defence Accounts (AF)Subroto Park,
Delhi Cantt – 110010.

Improvement of Disability Pension for pre-06 retirees :Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd

Improvement of Disability Pension for pre-06 retirees :
Orders partly issued-Navdeep
The Govt of India has issued certain orders regarding
disability pension in pursuance to the recommendations
of the Committee of Secretaries headed by the Cabinet
Secretary.The benefit of rounding-off / broad-banding
of disability percentage has now been extended to pre-
1-1-1996invalided personnel also. The provisions of the
earlier Govt of India letter dated 31 Jan 2001 which
provided a cut-off date of 1-1-96 for the said benefit, stand amendedaccordingly.The cap on War Injury Pension
restricting thesame to the maximum of ‘last drawn
emoluments’ for personnel invalided out in Category ‘E’
of the above mentioned letter dated 31 Jan 2001 also stands
removed.The orders on calculating disability element on a
percentage basis have not been issued as yet.The benefit of
rounding-off/broad-banding, like before, has only been
extended to persons who were ‘invalided out’ and not to those
who wereretired / discharged on completion of terms of
engagement or on superannuation. The Hon’ble Punjab
Haryana HighCourt in Paramjit Singh Vs UOI, while differing
with the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Lt Col PK Kapoor Vs UOI,
has already held this action to be arbitrary. Surprisingly,
neither the Petitioner nor the Govt had brought to the notice
of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Col Kapoor’s case that
Regulations now themselves provide that persons in Low
Medical Category at the time of retirement are also ‘deemed’
to be invalided out for the purposes of disability pension.The
different treatment between invalided and superannuating
personnel also seems strange in view of the fact that broad-
banding / rounding-off was introduced to curb medical s
ubjectivity since it was felt that different medical boards were
providing different percentages of disability for similar
ailments. To counter such assessment mistakes, the concept
of broad-banding of disability percentage was introduced.
Keeping this in view, it hardly makes any sense to deny broad-
banding to superannuating personnel while granting it to
invalided personnel since that would amountto saying that
medical subjectivity was only existing in medical boards
examining invalided personnel and notthose which were
examining superannuating personnel. This fact of the reason
behind broad-banding was hiddenfrom the Hon’ble Supreme
Court in Kapoor’s case and hence the judgement has no
binding effect on courts inferior being a judgement sub-
silentio. In fact, the judgement was rendered on the incorrect
statement of the Union of Indiathat broad-banding was
granted as a compensation to invalided personnel, a fact
that was sadly not countered by the Petitioner who was
appearing in person.
Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.
Mob.098554-09128,Tele-fax 0175-5000896

Land ScamAntony orders court martial of Lt GenAjay BanerjeeTribune:Veteran Prabhjot Singh PLS Retd.

Land ScamAntony orders court martial of

Lt GenAjay BanerjeeTribune News Service
New Delhi, January 27Virtually cracking the whip and

differing from the opinion of the Indian Army chief,

Defence Minister AK Antony today recommended that

court martial proceedings be initiated against military

secretary Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash.
Army chief Gen Deepak Kapoor had recommended only

a milder “administrative action” against Lt Gen

Prakash and two others, Lt Gen Ramesh Halgali and

Major-Gen P Sen, while he okayed disciplinary

proceedings against Lt Gen PK Rath in what is now

known as the “Darjeeling land scam”. Administrative

action is a mild reprimand when compared with

disciplinary proceedings, which can lead up to a court

martial.
The advice of the Defence Minister had reached the

Army chief this evening, sources said while confirming

the developments. Such an advice coming from the

Defence Minister was unprecedented. The onus is now on

the Army chief to take action. Sources said the Army

chief is “unlikely to differ on the Defence Minister’s advice”

and it was likely that General Prakash will not escape

unscathed.
Last week, Adjutant-General Lt Gen Mukesh Sabharwal

acting on the advice of the Army chief issued notices for

taking administrative action against Military Secretary

General Prakash and others. General Prakash, who is to

retire on January 31, has replied to the notice, sources

said today.
Last week, Antony had questioned the Army chief as to why

different yardsticks were applied in deciding the nature

of action against four senior Generals. The court of inquiry

ordered by the Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen VK Singh

had indicted two officers, including General Prakash, for

their role in issuing a no-objection certificate to a private

establishment that falsely claimed to be establishing an

affiliate of the well known Ajmer-based Mayo College on

land adjacent to the Sukna military station in Darjeeling

district.
On Saturday, General Kapoor had explained to the defence

ministry why he wanted only an administrative action

against Prakash while the COI ordered by General VK Singh

had wanted General Prakash be sacked. The Army chief ’s

ruling given on January 11 was in contrast to the

recommendation of the COI and that had prompted Antony

to seek a reply.
The Defence Minister had reportedly asked General Kapoor

as to what was the basis to take disciplinary action against

only one of the four senior Generals who were facing a probe.
Lt Gen Rath, is his earlier capacity as commander of the 33

corps at Darjeeling, had a major role in of signing of a

memorandum of understanding with a private realtor for a

70-acre plot adjacent to the military station near Darjeeling.

Rath during the court of inquiry had blamed the military

secretary for putting pressure on him to allow the MoU.

Veteran Prbahjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Mob:098554-09128 Telefax:0175-5000896.

Chatwal (Chhatwal) among Padma Bhushan Awardees: Vet. Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

S. Sant Singh Chatwal (Chhatwal) honoured with
Padma Bhushan Award
S. Sant Singh Chatwal (Chhatwal) is an Ex-Naval Trainee
Pilot and a distant relative of Vet. Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal.
Clean chit to Chatwal : Tribune News Service.
New Delhi, January 27Just a day after a controversy erupted
over conferring the Padma Bhushan award on New York
based NRI Sant Singh Chatwal, the government today
came out in strong defence and clarified that he had
been discharged by a court in Mumbai and there was
nothing adverse on record against him.
The government specified the role of Chatwal in the
Indo-US nuclear deal saying he was actively involved
in securing support for the nuclear deal among the
members of the Congress of the United States. It also
referred to him as “tireless advocate” of India’s
interests in the US.
Referring to the allegations of financial irregularities
against him, the government clarified that between
1992 and 1994, the CBI had registered five cases
against him and some bank officials for conniving
with the intention of defrauding the Bank of Baroda
and Bank of India. Three of these cases were closed
by the CBI itself while in the remaining two cases,
the Court discharged Chatwal.
The “Padma Awards” are conferred only after
consideration in terms of the guidelines regulating
the award and after observance of established and
elaborate procedures. A ‘due diligence’ exercise is
undertaken in respect of each awardee in consultation
with appropriate agencies before announcement of
the award, Onkar Kedia, the ministry spokesperson
said. No award is conferred except on the
recommendation of the Awards Committee,
constituted for the purpose and after the ‘due
diligence’ has been done, he added.
Chatwal was among the 43 people chosen by the
government for the prestigious Padma Bhushan on
the eve of the Republic Day earlier this week. The
decision sparked off a controversy with the BJP
objecting to the move because of the CBI cases
against him.
The Ministry said Chatwal was a Trustee of the
William J Clinton Foundation, which focuses on
issues such as health care, climate change and
economic empowerment of the underprivileged in
the world community. He made frequent trips to India
to provide relief to victims of tsunami and AIDS. He
is also a prominent leader of the Indian-American
community, it said.
Veteran Prbahjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.
Mob:098554-09128 Telefax:0175-5000896.

Baba Mehar Singh has left for heavenly abode:Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Dear Veterans,
Regards.It is,in fact,very sad to inform you all that one
our veterans,Sgt Mehar Singh ,fondly addressed as Baba
Mehar Singh by his mates,has left for heavenly abode,
yesterday .He retired from Air Force, longback, in early
seventees and then served as Maintenance Engineer in
Aircrafts workshop at Patiala for about a decade.He was
presently re-employed as Director of a privately managed,
Air Crafts Maintenance College in Indore (MP).He was an
active worker of our organisation. Baba has left behind
( his ) widow,one son and two daughters.Hischildren are
married and well settled.Baba was a jovial person and
never seen in pensive mood.
Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.
Mob.098554-09128,Tele-Fax 0175-5000896.

Link of Sainik-Rest-Houses in All Over India: Vet. Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Dear Veteran,
Regards. Find below the Link of Sainik-Rest-Houses
in All Over India for your information.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/25674535/Sainik-Rest-Houses

Letter to Director (Pension/ Policy), S. Harbans Singh: Vet. Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Dear Veterans,

Regards.

Find above a letter faxed to Director(Pension / Policy),

S. Harbans Singh byEx Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen

Association,# 3- Guru Ram Dass Nagar, Patiala.

Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Mob: 98554-09128 Telefax: 0175-5000896

ISSUE OF FULL LIQUOR QUOTA ON PRODUCING SMART CARD BY QMG's Br. :Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

ISSUE OF FULL LIQUOR QUOTA ON PRODUCING
SMART CARD :by QMG's Br
Tele 23092347: Army Hadquarters,
Quartermaster General’s Branch,
Dy Dte Gen Canteen Services,
New Delhi-11000131
Mar 2006No. 96301/Q/DDGCS
HeadquartersHQ Southern Command/Q (Ops)
HQ Eastern Command/Q (Ops)
HQ Western Command/Q (Ops)
HQ Central'Command/Q (Ops)
HQ Northern Command/Q (Ops)HQ South Western Command/Q (Ops)
Army Training Command/Q (Ops)
HQ Andaman & Nicobar Command/Q
Air Headquarters (Dte of Org)
Naval Headquarters (DPS)
Coast Guard Headquarters
SUB : ISSUE OF FULL LIQUOR QUOTA ON PRODUCING
SMART CARD FROM ANY CANTEEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY
1. This HQ is receiving complaints from various quarters stating that some
of the URCs are not giving full quota of liquor as authorized to an individual
on smart card.Also it has been intimated by troops that URCs are not giving
liquor on the smart card when they go on leave / temporary duty. It is
reiterated that all personnel of armed forces are authorized to draw their
full liquor quota from any URC in the country on producing the smart Card.
2. This is a facility extended to all ranks of Armed Forces. No URC will deny
this facility to anyauthorized customer. Necessary action may be initiated
against the defaulting URCs in future.
3. Naval HQs have intimated that dependent members of their family are
not being given canteenstores without smart card, as already informed,
Naval HQs is in the process of implementation of CIMS, till such time
canteen facilities may not be denied to them.
4. HQ commands are requested to issue necessary instructions to call
concernedon the above issues.
5. Naval HQs only. This disposes off your query on the subject.
(R S Khatri)Lt Col.
Jt Dir CS
Copy to :- DGNCC ]- DGBR ]- DG Assam Rifles ] For information please-
CSD HO, Mumbai ]-
Army HQ Canteen ‘Q’ Block

Decorated soldiers"deprived of benefits:Vet. Prabhjot Singh PLS Retd.President,IESL P&C.

Decorated soldiers ‘deprived of benefits’
Indian Ex-Services League demands probe.
Ludhiana_ January 16.The Indian Ex-Services League, Punjab,
and Chandigarh, has sought a high-level inquiry in the alleged
scandal of not granting land and other benefits to the decorated
soldiers and their widows.
A large number of decorated soldiers had died and their kin
had not been given any benefits as announced by the state
government from time to time.
Lt Col Chanan Singh Dhillon (retd), patron-in-chief of the
league, said that the state government had sufficient land
to allot to the decorated soldiers but officials of the state
Revenue Department and other babus had played a big fraud
on these soldiers and their families.
Colonel Dhillon said according to a report of the Revenue
Department published on April 29, 2002, the state had land
to the order of 1,72,428 acres available in 17 districts of the
state. About 36,127 acres were available, which were not
under any encroachment.
He further said the state Defence Advisory Committee, which
met on August 11, 2004, had found that the Revenue
Department had been acting in a pick and choose manner for
allotment of land to the decorated soldiers and their widows.
Colonel Dhillon said Capt Amarinder Singh had ordered an
inquiry into the scandal and directed the Defence Department
to dig out the facts and put up report regarding the officers
involved in the same. He charged that neither the Revenue
Department nor the Defence Department, including the
Director of the Sainik Welfare Board of the state government,
acted in this regard and adopted a dilly-dallying attitude and
the scandal remained buried in the babudom.
According to Colonel Dhillon, when Parkash Singh Badal took
over as the Chief Minister, the matter was again taken up with
him and it was complained that the Revenue Department was
not cooperating and had played havoc with the decorated soldiers.
During investigations, it was found that the Revenue Department
had re-employed some of the officials, who had retired at higher
salaries. Badal refused to grant sanction to such officers.
Colonel Dhillon had demanded a high-level inquiry into the scam.
The state government were keen to help the decorated soldiers
and their widows but department officials had not allowed them
to help their widows and the living decorated officers, he alleged.
It is learnt that there were as many as 256 decorated officers in
the state in which 125 were alive.
Veteran Prabhjot Singh PLS Retd.
President,
Indian Ex-Services League, Punjab & Chandigarh.
Mob.098554-09128,Tele-Fax 0175-5000896.

Happy lohri to all the Veterans

Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

HAPPY LOHRI TO VETERANS

Army initiates action against the Tainted Generals-Tribune News Service:Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Darjeeling Land Scam
Army initiates action against the tainted Generals :
Ajay Banerjee: Tribune News Service.

New Delhi, January 12: The Army today initiated disciplinary
action against a senior Lieutenant General which could lead
to a court martial, while separately administrative action has
been initiated against three other top officers for their role in
a land scam in West Bengal.
Army chief Gen Deepak Kapoor had directed Adjutant General,
Lt Gen Mukesh Sabharwal to issue notices for taking action
against Military Secretary Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash, Lt Gen PK
Rath, Lt Gen Ramesh Halgali and Major General P Sen, after a
probe had reportedly held them culpable in the land scam.
The scope of the administrative action will be as wide as
warning to termination from service. This means the Military
Secretary will be saved from the ignominy of facing a sack.
Senior Army officers said here that disciplinary action had
been initiated against Lt Gen Rath, who had a major role to
play in the issuance of signing of a memorandum of
understanding with a private realtor for a 70-acre plot
adjacent to the Sukna military station near Darjeeling.
Rath during the court of inquiry had blamed the Military
Secretary. However, officials explained that this was not
enough for Rath to escape as he was the one who ultimately
signed the papers in his previous capacity as GOC 33 corps.
Lt Gen PK Rath was the deputy chief-designate, however,
his appointment had been put on hold. Lt Gen GM Nair,
who is the outgoing GOC 9 corps Yol Camp, is tipped to the
deputy chief. Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash and two other generals
have been served a show-cause notice.
The Army chief submitted his recommendation to the Ministry
of Defence after going through the findings of the court of
inquiry which was held in eastern command headquarters in
Kolkata.
The Army chief’s ruling is in contrast to the recommendation
of the eastern Army commander Lt Gen V K Singh, who had
claimed that there was enough ground for the termination of
Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash’s service. Gen Singh had sought
administrative action against the three other officers, Lt Gen
PK Rath, corps commander Lt Gen Ramesh Halgali and Maj
Gen P Sen.
But Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash has only been served a show-cause
notice asking him to explain why administrative action should
not be taken against him. He is due to retire on January 31. The
show-cause notice will allow him to retire without getting
punished while in service. He gets 30 days to respond.

Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.
Mob.098554-09128,Tele-Fax 0175-5000896.

Punjab Chief Minister orders to examine cases of land allotment- Tribune News Service:Vet.Prabhjot Singh PLS Retd.

Chandigarh January 10:Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh
Badal today ordered to examine entire cases of land allotment
to the gallantry award winners, following the alleged cases of
discrimination in such allotments to the awardees by the
revenue authorities.
The Chief Minister here gave an assurance to this effect in a
meeting to delegation of the War Decorated India led by its
President Brigadier (retd), MVC and Bar, Sant Singh.
The delegation informed the Chief Minister that the state
government entitled PVC winner to 15 acres of land, MVC
winner to 10 acres and a Vir Chakra winner to 5 acres. In
case of non-availability of land, inadequate cash grants
have been fixed. In some cases, the district revenue
authorities wrongly intimated to an award winner that
land was not available and asked him to take the cash
grant, whereas the land was actually available and has
still been available.
A few awardees accepted the cash grant on wrong advice
of the revenue authorities. The delegation asked Badal
to order the grant of land by taking the cash grant back
after seeking a detailed report on the issue. The
delegation also urged Badal to remove an anomaly to
consider the Vir Chakra awardee senior to a Miltary
Cross, whereas the state government was paying an
allowance of Rs 7,500 per month to a MC winner and
Rs 5,500 per month to a Vir Chakra.
The delegation also demanded to incorporate a
provision in the Punjab Tenancy Act, which existed
in the erstwhile PEPSU’s Tenancy Act, and had
exempted lands owned by them from the said Act, but
there was no such provision in the existing Punjab
Tenancy Act.
Further, the delegation urged the CM to incorporate
such a provision in the Punjab Act preferably for all
armed forces personnel (both serving and retired).
But in case it was not possible, it may be done for the
gallantry award winners and their widows. The Chief
Minster assured the delegation that all the issues raised
by them would be examined by the Department of
Defence Services Welfare in a time bound manner.
He also assured the delegation to look into their
demand to exempt the real estate, both residential and
commercial, owned by gallantry award winners in
particular and armed forces personnel in general from
the Punjab Rent Control Act. The Chief Minister accepted
the invitation extended by them to preside over the
triennial function of the War Decorated of India being
held at Chandigarh on March 6, 2010.
Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Modified Parity in Pension for Pre-2006 veterans (JCOs.and below) : Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Dear Veterans,
Regards. It is informed in response to many enquiries
by our veterans that the orders for Modified Parity in
Pension for Pre-2006 veterans (JCOs. and below) are
in final stages but not (R) not yet issued.Veterans will
get the information about the orders as and when these
are issued.
Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.
Mob.098554-09128,Tele-Fax 0175-5000896.

Corps of Signals' Centenary this year:Vet. Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Corps of Signals’ centenary this year :Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 10.The Corps of Signals, the Army’s information warriors, are celebrating their centenary this year. Many events spread across the year are being organised at various places to commemorate the occasion. The celebrations would begin with the release of the centenary brochure and Corps of Signals film by the President on February 15. Besides Delhi, events would be held in all operational commands of the Army and the Corps’ principal training institutions.
Seminars on communication and technical displays, displays by sky-diving teams, IAF’s Surya Kiran aerobatics team, Corps’ bands, dare-devils riders and martial arts experts, release of commemorative stamp and first day cover, inter-command sports competitions, adventure sports and social events are part of the centenary calendar.
A joint display by dare-devil motorcycle riders from the Corps of Signals and the Royal Corps of Signals, United Kingdom, is also expected at Jabalpur though it is yet to be finalised. The Corps of Signals was raised on February 15, 1911, and the journey has been a saga of rich heritage, professional excellence and operations. In recent years, it has taken rapid strides in establishing state-of-the-art information and communication technologies infrastructure in the Army and also laid modern communication networks in UN missions.
The Corps has successfully integrated various networks and systems, including satellites to deliver the “Network of Networks” to the Army. Mobile satellite communication is also being introduced, which would further enhance the communication capability of the Corps.

An organisation,exclusively,for JCOs and below has been registered with Registrar of Firms and Societies: Vet.PJS Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Dear Veterans
Regards.You will be glad to know that a new organisation, which we have been discussing in past few months, has, finally,been registered with Registrar of Firms and Societies on 7th day of January,2010 and blog on this name has been created.
Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.
Mob.98554-09128,Tele-Fax 0175-5000896