Happy and a prosperous Diwali to all veterans and their widows Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS (Retd)

Dear Veterans, Regards.
EX- SOLDIERS, SAILOR & AIRMEN ASSOCIATION (Regd),
a national level organization of veterans, wishes all veterans and the widows a happy and prosperous Diwali and further advises the veterans to get their own pension and the pension of war widows and old veterans above 80 yrs (known to them), checked up from the persons who are aware of the latest orders and notifications regarding pension because it has been gathered by this organization that above 40% of veterans/widows are being disbursed wrong amount of pension by Pension Disbursing Authorities.

Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS (Retd).
President.

Order for Pay fixation of re-employed ex-servicermen.. Veteran PJS Chhatwal PLS Regt.

Dear Veterans,
Find below the latest order for pay fixation of re-employed
ex-servicemen as requested by a few re-employed veterans.

No.3/19/2009-Estt. (Pay II)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pension
Department of personnel & Training
**********
New Delhi, Dated:5th April, 2010.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Applicability of CSS (RP) Rules, 2008 to persons re-employed in
Government Service after retirement and whose pay is debitable to Civil
Estimates.

-----------

The understand is directed to prefer to this Department's
O.M. No. 3/13/2008-Estt. (Pay II) dated 11th November, 2008 on the
above-mentioned subject. Certain reference have been received
seeking clarification regarding the manner of fixation of pay of
retired defence Force personnel/officers re-employed in central
Government Civilian posts, after the implementation of CCS (RP)
Rules,2008. This has been considered in consultation with
Department of Expenditure. The pay fixation of re-employed
pensioners in Central Government, including that of Defence
Force personnel/ officers, is being done in accordance with
CCS (fixation of pay of re-employed pensioner) Orders, 1986, issued
vide this Department's O.M. No. 3/1/85-Estt. (Pay II) dated
31st July, 1986 (as revised from time to time).

2. After the introduction of the system of running pay bands and
grade pays, it has been decided to amend the relevant provision of
CCS (fixation of pay of re-employed pensioners) Order, 1986 in the
manner indicated below:-

Existing provision
Para 4(a) Re-employed pensioners shall be allowed to draw pay only
in the prescribed scales of pay of the posts in which they are re-employed.
No protection of the scales of pay of the posts held by them prior to
retirement shall be given.
Proposed revised provision
Para 4(a): Re-employed pensioners shall be allowed to draw pay only in
the prescribed pay scales/pay structure of the post which they are
re-employed. No protection of the scales of pay/pay structure of the post
held by them prior to retirement shall be given.

Note: Under the provisions of CCS (RP) Rules, 2008, revised pay structure
comprises the grade pay attached to the post and the applicable pay band.

Existing provision
Para 4(b)(i): In all cases where the pension is fully ignored, the initial pay
on re-employed shall be fixed at the minimum of scales of the re-employed
post.

Proposed revised provision
Para 4(b)(i): In the cases where the pension is fully ignored, the
initial pay on re-employed shall be fixed as per entry pay in the revised
pay structure of the re-employed post applicable in the case of direct
recruits appointed on or after 1.12006 as notified vide Section II, Part A
of First Schedule to CCS (RP) Rules, 2008.

Existing provision
Para4(b)(ii): In cases where the entire pension and pensionary benefits
are not ignored for pay fixation, the initial pay on re-employed shall be
fixed at the same stage as the last pay drawn before retirement, If there
in no such stage in the re-employed post, the pay shall be fixed at the
stage next above that pay. If the maximum of the pay scales in which a
pensioner is re-employed is less that the maximum of the scales of pay
of the re-employed post. Similarly, if the minimum of the scales of pay
in which a pensioner is re-employed is more than the last pay drawn by
him before retirement, his initial pay shall be fixed at the minimum of
the scales of pay of the re-employed post. However, in all these cases, the
non-ignorable part of the pensions hall be reduced from the pay so fixed.

Proposed revised provision
Para 4(b)(ii): In cases where the entire pension and pensionary benefits
are not ignored for pay fixation, the initial basic pay on re-employed shall
be fixed at the same stage as the basic pay drawn before retirement,
However, he shall be granted the grade pay of the re-employed post. The
maximum basic pay cannot exceed the grade pay of the re-employed post
plus pay in the pay band of Rs. 67000 i.e. the maximum of the pay band
PB-4. In all these cases, the non-ignorable part of the pension shall be
reduced from the pay so fixed.

Illustration

A Colonel who retired with basic pay of Rs. 61700 (grade pay Rs.8700; pay
in the pay bands Rs.53000) is re-employed as a Deputy Secretary in an
organization with grade pay of Rs. 7600. In this case, on re-employment,
his basic pay will continue to be Rs. 61700. However, his grade pay on
re-employment will be Rs.7600 and the pay in the pay band Rs. 54100.
Thereafter, the non-ignorable part of the pension will be reduced from
the pay so fixed.

Note; In the revised pay structure, basic pay is pay in the pay band plus
the grade pay attached to the post.
Existing provision
Para 4(c): The re-employed pensioner will, in addition to pay as fixed
under Para (b) above shall be permitted to draw separately any pension
sanctioned to him and to retain any other from of retirement benefits.

Proposed revised provision
Para 4(c): No change.

Existing provision
Para 4(d): In the case of pension retiring before attaining the age of
55 year and who are re-employed, pension (including PEG and other
forms for initial pay fixation in the following extent:-

(i) In the case of ex-servicemen who held posts below Commissioned
Officer rank in the Defence Forces and in the case of civilians who held
posts below Group 'A' posts at the time of their retirement, the entire
pension and pension equivalent of retirement benefits shall be ignored.

(ii) In the case of services officers belonging to the Defence Forces and
Civilian Pensioner who held 'A' posts at the time of their retirement, the
first Rs.500/-* of the pension and pension equivalent retirement
benefits shall be ignored. (*Already revised to Rs.4000/- vide O.M.
No. 3/13/2008-Estt. (pay II) dated 11th November, 2008)

Propored revised provision
Para 4(d): in the case of persons retiring before attaining the age of
55 year and who are re-employed, pension (including Peg and other
forms of retirement benefits) shall be ignored for initial fixation in
the following extent:-

(i) No change.
(ii) In case of Commissioned Service officer belonging to the Defence
Forces and civilian pensioners held Group 'A'
posts at the time of their retirement, the first Rs. 4000/- of the pension
and pension equivalent retirement benefits shall be ignored.

3. Apart from the above, it is also clarified as under:-

(i) Drawal of increments: Once the initial pay of the re-employed
has been fixed in the manner indicated above, he will be allowed to
drawn normal increments as per the provisions of Rules 9 and 10
of CCS (RP) Rules,2008.

(ii) Allowances: The drawal of various allowances and other benefits
in the revised pay structure shall be regulated with reference to the
grade pay of the re-employed post of the basic pay, as the case may be.

(iii) Treatment of Military Service Pay (MSP): MSP is granted to Defence
Force officer/personnel while they are serving in the Defence Force.
Accordingly, on their re-employment in Civilian organization,
including secret organizations under the Cabinet Secretariat umbrella,
the question of grant of MSP to such officer/personnel under not arise.
However, the benefit of MSP given to all retired Defence Forces
officer/personnel by reckoning itat the time of calculation or their
pension (notionally in the case of pre-1.1.2006 pensioner) should not
be withdrawn. Accordingly, while the pension of such re-employed
pensioner will include the element of MSP, they will not be granted
MSP while working in civilian organizations.

(iv) Fixation of pay of personnel/officer re-employed prior to 1.1.2006
and who were in employment as on 1.1.2006: In the case of personnel/
officer who were re-employed before 1.1.2006 and who were working in
the Central Government organization on reemployment basis on 1.1.2006,
their pay will be fixed in accordance with the provisions of DOPT O.M.
No.3/13/2008-Estt.(Pay II) dated 11.11.2008. this O.M. stipulates that
re-employed persons who become eligible to elect revised pay structure
shall exercise option in the manner laid down in Rule 7 of CCS (RP)
Rules,2008. In this context , it is clarified that in accordance with the
provisions of Rules 7 of CCS (RP) Rules,2008, Department of Expenditure
issued fitment tables corresponding to each pre-revised pay scales vide
O.M. No.1/1/2008-IC dated 30.8.2008. In the case of those personnel/
officers as well, who were re-employed before 1.1.2006 and who were
working in the civilian organizations on re-employed basis as on 1.1.2006,
their pay will be fixed with reference to the fitment table of the pre-revised
civilian pay scale in which they were re-employed and corresponding to the
stage in the pre-revised pay scale as on 1.1.2006.

(v) Fixation of pay of personnel/officers who retired prior to 1.1.2006 and
who have been re-employed after 1.1.2006: In the case of personnel/
officer who had retired prior to 1.1.2006 and who have been re-employed
after 1.1.2006, their pay re-employed will be fixed by nationally arriving
at their revised basis pay at the time of retirement as if they retired under
the revised pay structure. This will be done with reference to the
fitment table of the Defence Service Rank/Civilian service post (as the
case may be) from which they had retired and the stage of basic pay at
the time retirement. Their basic pay on re-employment will be fixed at
the same stage as the national last basic pay before retirement so arrived
at. However, they shall be granted the grade pay of the re-employed post.
The maximum basic pay cannot exceed the grade pay of the re-employed
post plus pay in the pay band of Rs. 67000 i.e. the maximum of the pay
band PB-4. In all these cases, the non-ignorable part of the pension shall
be reduced form the pay so fixed.
4. The exiting instruction on the subject shall be treated as amended to
this extent.

5. In so far as the persons serving in the Indian Audit & Accounts
Department are concerned, these orders are being issued after
consultation with the Comptroller & Auditor General of India.


(Rita Mathur)
Director

To
All Ministries/Department (As per standard list attached)

Copy to: Director (NIC), Department of Personnel & Training, to upload
the O.M. on this Department's website under the Head "Establishment (Pay)",
Sub-Head " Pay Rules" & under the caption "What's New".

Copies also forwarded to:

1. The Comptroller & Auditor General of India and all states under his control.
(With 400 spare copies)
2. Controller General of Accounts/Controller of Accounts, Ministry of finance.
3. Secretaries to UPCS/Supreme Court of India/Election Commission/Lok Sabha Secretariat/Cabinet Secretariat/Central Vigilance commission/President's
Secretariat/Vice President's Secretariat/Prime Ministry's Office/Planning
Commission.
4. Department of Personnel &Training (AIS Division)/JCA/Admn. Section.
5. Additional Secretary (Union Territories), Ministry of Home Affairs.
6. All State Government and Union Territories.
7. Secretary, National Council (staff Side), 13-C, Feroz Shah Road, New Delhi.
8. All Members of the Staff Side of the National Council of JCM/Department
Council.
9. All Officer/Sections of the Department of Personnel & Training/Department
of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances/Department of Pension &
Pensioners' Welfare .
10. Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure
11. 25 spare copies.



(Rita Mathur)
Director

UK remembers war hero from Jalandhar -Shyam Bhatia from London : Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

UK remembers war hero from Jalandhar
Shyam Bhatia in London
A World War I hero from Jalandhar is among a number of Indian soldiers who will be remembered on Sunday at a special ceremony being held outside the British seaside town of Brighton.Subedar Manta Singh, who served with the 15th Ludhiana Sikhs and died in 1915, was the son of Khem Singh of Salempur, Masandan, near Jalandhar. He was wounded in Northern France and evacuated to a hospital in Brighton — south of London — where he died after both his legs were amputated and he contracted septicaemia.His is one of the 53 Indian names that have been inscribed on the domed memorial, known as the Brighton Chattri, designed by Sir John Otter and first erected in 1921.Manta Singh was a member of Royal Indian Expeditionary Force that was sent to France in 1914. He was injured saving the life of a wounded British officer, Captain Henderson, when allied forces broke through the German lines at Neuve-Chapelle in Northern France in 1915. Over 5,000 Indian soldiers were killed in the heavy fighting in that particular area, all part of the 70,000 Indian casualties of the World War-I.When Manta Singh arrived at the Kitchener Hospital in Brighton, he was told by doctors that he had contracted gangrene and both his legs would have to be amputated. Before he died he reportedly told doctors that he would be of no use to his family if he returned home without his legs.British military records show 12,000 Indian soldiers passed through Brighton and out of those some 74 Hindu, Sikh and Muslim soldiers succumbed to their wounds in local hospitals. The Muslims were buried in the nearby town of Woking and the Hindus and Sikhs were cremated outside Brighton, near the village of Patcham.As a mark of gratitude to the fallen soldiers, the British authorities agreed to build the Brighton Chattri over the site of the ghat that was later surrounded by specially planted sweet smelling flowers and aromatic herbs.The Maharaja of Patiala was among the early visitors to the Chattri that subsequently fell into disrepair. The restoration of the Chattri, which for the first time carries the engraved names of 53 cremated soldiers, is the reason for Sunday’s ceremony.Manta Singh’s grandson Jaimal Singh Johal will be present, as will be the grandson of Captain Henderson. The two families have been in touch with each other since 1915. Henderson was awarded the Sword of Honour at Sandhurst in 1911, before being sent out to India to join the 2nd 11th Sikhs, where Manta Singh was then serving.

Denigrating the status of the rank of Hav./Sgts./Petty Offr.and below by Secy, Rajya Sainik Board,Punjab:Vet.PJS Chhatwal Retd.

Dear Veterans,Regards.
Veterans in Punjab, holding the rank of Hav./ Sgt./Petty Offr. and below, are now heading for a very dark future in the field of re-employment in Punjab if an advertisement given in 'Ajit' dt. 12-9-2010 by Secetary, Rajya Sainik Board,Punjab, Brig. (Retd.) I.S. GAKHAL inviting the applications for the post of Care Taker and Chowkidar( Watchman) for Punjab Sainik Rest House Chandigarh is relied upon.

Secy. RSB has invited the applications from the veterans of the rank of Hav. and equvalent for these posts and specified that Hav. with Matriculation as qualification and experience of having worked as Mess Hav. during his army service is only eligible for the post Care taker and Hav. who has passed 8th class is eligible for the post of Chowkidar (Watchman).

As such, it can be easily concluded that-
1. A middle pass Hav/Sgt/Petty Offr. is only eligible for the post for the post of Chokidar/Sweeper /Mali etc. 2. Nk /Cpl/Able Seaman is not eligible for any job in Punjab Govt.
Punjab Vetrans may give their comments below this post (R) below this post and not in chat box.

SC wants separate pay panel for forces: Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Tribune News
SC wants separate pay panel for forces

R SedhuramanLegal Correspondent

New Delhi, September 8
Pointing out that many of the armed forces personnel have returned their medals due to non-redressal of their grievances, the Supreme Court today asked the government to consider setting up a separate Pay Commission for both serving and retired members.
“We feel this is necessary as the Armed Forces personnel have many grievances which they feel are not being properly addressed by the Union Government. Many have even returned their medals,” a Bench comprising Justices Markandey Katju and TS Thakur said in an order.
The Bench asked Attorney General GE Vahanvati and Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium to forward the suggestion to the government and get its response by October 18, the next date of hearing.
The court passed the order while hearing a petition filed by some serving and retired army officers challenging the government’s refusal to accord them enhanced “rank pay” as recommended by the Fifth Pay Commission.
The AG and the SG “were present on behalf of the Central government. We have made certain suggestions to them regarding setting up of an independent commission headed by a retired Supreme Court judge for looking into all the grievances of the serving and former members of the Armed Forces,” the Bench noted in the order, marking a copy each to the AG and the SG.
Earlier during the arguments, the Bench slammed the Centre for making army personnel run from pillar to post for getting their salary disputes resolved. “The day the soldiers are forced to fight for their salaries, it would be a sad day for the country,” it remarked.
Noting that the Army people who were a disciplined lot could not go on agitation like others, the Bench said forcing them to fight for their salaries was not good for the country. Citing a senior officer who burnt his artificial limb in frustration, the Bench asked the AG and the SG: “Why do you allow such things?”
The present Pay Commission headed by bureaucrats was perhaps unable to understand the problems of the personnel, the apex court observed and felt that setting up a separate commission would provide a channel for them to vent out their feelings.
The Bench slammed the Centre for making army personnel run from pillar to post for getting their salary disputes resolved.
“The day the soldiers are forced to fight for their salaries, it would be a sad day for the country," the Bench said quoting Chanakya's advise to Emperor Chandragupta Maurya.
The apex court said the sane advise of Chanakya was valid even today and it was unfortunate that army personnel are forced to knock the doors of the court for rectifying their salary anomalies.

Reader's Mail for Veterans comments :Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Dear Mr. Prabhjot Singh,
Thanks for your interaction. I have read your blogs on blogspot.com. Your efforts are appreciable.Some days ago, I sent a spit to Capt Davar on his views about the rally and issue of OROP. A mail received from him justifying his views supported by the judgements of Hon'ble Supreme Court of India is appended below. Please analyse it and post your comments accordingly.
Jagtar SinghEx-WO(Ludhiana

On Tue, 7/9/10, Praveen Davar wrote:
From: Praveen Davar Subject: OROPTo: Date: Tuesday, 7 September, 2010, 7:47 PMDear AllThe Indian Armed Forces are voluntary service and the terms of service are well known to us when we join the service, Dignity, honor, discipline and izzat associated with the forces has been severely damaged by the way some people are conducting the movement for OROP. Stooping to signing petition with blood is a new low in the abominable acts conducted by one group in public domain. Approx fifty to sixty thousand Ex Servicemen are added to the fraternity of Veterans every year. Imagine the needless negativity they have to encounter as a result of unconventional methods of dissent or communication with the government. May almighty grant the senior officers leading this movement wisdom to conduct the activities in a civilized manner resist the temptation of character assassination and attack on individuals. And for heaven’s sake let us not mislead the PBORs and officers and take them on a flight of fancy.I have always felt that we should be content with what we get and devote the rest of our post-service life for the cause of poor and needy. I have met thousands of Ex-Servicemen who say that they never expected such hefty pensions. We render disservice to the Nation, if we try and create dissatisfaction where it does not exist. My intention was never to hurt any ones sentiments and the statements made by me or anyone else was based on information given from within your ranks.The Supreme Court has also examined the OROP; petition filed by Ex Servicemen League (1991 1 SCR 158), as a sequel to the decision of the court in DS Nakara & Others case of KL Rathee Versus union of India 1997 (3) SLR 207 Versus Union of India, the court in the decision dated 29 Jan 1991 took the view that the claim of pre 1 Apr 1979 retirees being entitled to same pension as post 1 Apr 1979 retirees was untenable. The Supreme Court has taken similar view for civil side as well.The Defence Minister, Sh. A. K. Antony deserves the gratitude of Ex-Servicemen for stating in Parliament that the goal of OROP would be reached gradually. This has encouraged all Ex-Servicemen in the country. We appeal to all Ex-Servicemen organizations, especially retired officers, not to use any offensive or provocative language. The cause of Ex-Servicemen will suffer if IESM does not mend its ways and the harsh language it uses. Soldiers shed blood only on the battlefield. As Ex-Servicemen they can donate blood to the Red Cross Society/Hospitals for the needy. Signing letters in blood is unlike a soldier.Returning medals is not only unsoldierlike, but also unethical and immoral, especially in view of the fact that no govt in the past has done so much for the welfare of serving soldiers and Ex-Servicemen as the UPA-1 and UPA-2. Pay and pensions have gone up nearly 300% in the last 5 years which is unprecedented.Further, while presenting the Budget for 2008-09 the government substantially improved the pension of pre-January, 2006 Defence pensioners below officer rank and brought pre-October 10, 1997 pensioners on par with post- October 10, 1997 pensioners i.e. pre 2006 pensioners. Anomalies in some ranks of officers from Majors to Major General are being addressed. Congress has done for welfare of both serving soldiers and Ex-servicemen what no party has ever done, or will ever have the capacity to do. So let people not be misled by the false promises made by other parties in their manifestos or otherwise.We must also heed the appeal of Defence Minister not to return medals. Doing so, in my opinion, is an undignified, illegal and unconstitutional act. Let us control our emotions and give the govt time to resolve the OROP issue.Jai Hind & God bless us all!Praveen Davar

Welfare of Widows : Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Dear Veterans. Regards.
A survey conducterd by Ex-Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Association (Regd.) and Indian Ex-Services League, Punjab & Chandigarh has revealed shocking results.War widow of Flt. Lt. Gurbax Singh Ahuja of 1965 fame has been receiving the pension of mere Rs. 3500/- PM only without an element of dearness allowance instead of Liberalized Pension of about Rs. 20,000/- PM till May last in spite of the fact that she has been knocking at the door of Pension Sanctioning Authority i.e. Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pension), Allahabad through all concerned since 1987.Now with the intervention of IESL, Punjab & Chandigarh, her pension (Ordinary) has been increased to Rs. 8310/= (basic) + Dearness Allowance @ 35% w.e.f. 01-01-2006 by the concerned pension disbursing authority pending the case of granting Liberalized Pension by Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pension), Allahabad. The widow has received an amount of Rs. 4 lakhs as arrear with this revision.A letter dated 19-08-2010 by Air Headquarter, New Delhi addressed to Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pension), Allahabad has duly supported the entitlement of Liberalized Pension to the said war widow. As such, the pension of widow is expected to be revised by PCDA (P), Allahabad and she is likely to be granted Liberalized Pension of about Rs. 20,000/-PM with an arrear of Rs. 28-30 lakh after more than four decades with the recent efforts being made by this organization. This is not a solitary case of wrong disbursal of Defence Pension. A widow of Sub. Gurdial Singh of a village near Amloh (now district Fatehgarh Sahib) has been receiving the pension of Sepoy's widow till August, 2009 i.e. two months before her death. Similarly, Sub. Sher Singh of Patiala State Forces has been receiving Sepoy's pension till a few months before his death in 2008. IESL Punjab & Chandigarh has been instrumental in getting their pension revised to correct amount.The association has instructed its State & District Presidents to check the pensions of old widows, especially war widows to ascertain that they are receiving the correct amount of pension which is as follows.
Pre-2006 Ordinary Family Pension
Rank Basic D.A. Total
Upto the rank of Havaildar Rs. 3500/- 35 % Rs. 4725/-
Naib Sub. (Group-X) Rs. 5070/- 35% Rs. 6845/-
(Group-Y) Rs. 4650/- 35% Rs. 6278/-
Sub. (Group-X) Rs. 5190/- 35% Rs. 7007/-
(Group-Y) Rs. 4770/- 35% Rs. 6440/-
Sub.Major (Group-X) Rs.5250/- 35% Rs. 7088/- (Group-Y) Rs. 4830/- 35% Rs. 6526/-
Hony. Lt./ Regular Lt. Rs. 8100/- 35% Rs. 10935/-
Hony Capt./Regular Capt. Rs. 8310/- 35% Rs. 11219/-
Liberalized Pension (100% of notional pay of the Rank (Minimum) Rs.7000/- 35 % Rs.9450/-
Veteran Pabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.
President ,
Ex-Soldiers,salors and Airmen Association (Regd.)Mob.098554-09128 Tele-Fax 0175-5000896

One Rank One Pension Issue: Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Dear Veterans, Regards.
Find below two news items published in Express News Service and The Tribune.
Though Ex-Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Association is not a party to steps being taken by IESM but it strongly condemns the statement given to press by no one else than an army veteran himself . He may belong to any party but should not give such statement to disseminate such wrong things.
At the same time, we appriciate the statement given in Parliament by Hon'ble Defence Minister, A.K. Antony in which he has stated that implementation of 'One Rank One Pension' is an ongoing process and further stated that it is a long process.
We are also thankful to Leader of the Opposition Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitely (BJP) who has supported the cause of ex-servicemen. We also appreciate the stand taken by Congress Members P.J. Kurien and S. Partap Singh Bajwa who have requested the govt. to look into the issue of thousands of Jawans who retire before the age of 40.
As such, we request the govt. of India to raise the pay and pension of personnel below the JCO's rank who have been hit hard and placed in Pay Band-I by the Sixth Central Pay Commission without paying any credence to the skill gained by them during the initial training of one year or so after the entry into Armed Forces. They have, also, not been duly compensated for the risk factor by paying them a meager amount of Rs. 2000/- as MSP. These personnel should be placed in Pay Band-II with consequential benefits of pay and pension, during the ongoing process, to arrest the resentment prevailing among them at present. This will prove a great step towards "One Rank One Pension".


Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.
President
Ex-Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Association (Regd.)

I

‘Ex-servicemen returned fake medals’

Express news service: Posted: Tue Aug 24 2010, 02:51 hrs

New Delhi: A day after over 2,000 retired military personnel returned their medals to President Pratibha Patil and also submitted a memorandum purportedly containing their signatures in blood in support of their demand for “one-rank one pay” for all, the Congress has alleged that the medals were fake and bought from local markets.
The party also alleged that the members of Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM) used a red chemical for their signatures.“The medals which were returned have been purchased from Sadar Bazar in the Delhi cantonment area. We have proof that they have been bought recently,” Praveen Davar, Secretary, AICC Ex-Service Department, said.Davar said IESM, which he termed a pro-BJP organisation, has been returning medals by the thousands to the President but not a single gallantry awardee has come forward to return a medal. “Not a single awardee of gallantry awards has returned his medal. This shows that the bravest of the brave soldiers do not approve of the activities of a handful of ex-servicemen being misled by disgruntled elements,” Davar said, adding that “the signatures were not in blood but in a red chemical that looks like blood”.

II

One-rank One-pension will take time: Antony

New Delhi: 25/08/2010: Even as ex-servicemen take the extreme step of returning their medals demanding one-rank-one-pension, the government on Wednesday clarified that it may not come very soon.
Replying to a zero hour mention by Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley (Bharatiya Janata Party) and supported by members across party lines including the Congress, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said that the implementation of one-rank-one-pension is an ongoing process."At the time we cannot implement one-rank-one-pension, but we are nearing the goal. It is a long process," Antony added.Raising the issue, Jaitley said that though it was mentioned in the budget speech of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, no steps have been taken so far for implementing the one-rank-one-pension system."Neither the 5th nor the 6th Pay Commission addressed the issue. The finance minister also indicated in his budget speech that a committee will be formed but nothing happened," Jaitley pointed out.He also said that ex-servicemen should not take extreme steps like returning their medals.
"The medal is an honour given to them by the nation. I therefore appeal to them not to return the medals," Jaitley said.
He was supported by Communist Party of India-Marxist member Sitaram Yechury and Congress member P.J. Kurien, among others.
"I would also request the Government to look in the issue of thousands of jawans who retire before the age of 40," Kurien said.
The Defence minister, however, said that though one-rank-one-pension was still far, a number of steps have been taken by the government to ensure that ex-servicemen are benefited.
"The Prime Minister appointed a committee to look into the issues of the ex-servicemen. The committee gave recommendations in five areas and all have been accepted," Antony said.
"Government has increased the pension of nearly 12 lakh ex-servicemen. We are also starting 197 additional polyclinics for them across the country," he pointed out.
The opposition, however, remained unsatisfied with the reply as BJP member S.S. Ahluwalia urged the government to talk to the ex-servicemen and settle the issue.
Over 5,000 ex-servicemen on Sunday returned their medals to protest the government's reluctance to accept their one-rank-one-pension demand. They also submitted a memorandum on the issue to President Pratibha Patil, the supreme commander of the armed forces.

Tele-fax: 0175 – 5000896.
Mob: 098554-09128
Email: prabhjot_singh0@yahoo.com

Ex- Soldiers, Sailors & Airmen
Association (Regd.)
# 3 Guru Ram Dass Nagar, Tripuri Road,

Patiala - 147 004.Punjab, India.

ESSAA/13/2010 (Reminder-1) Dt. 25 Aug, 2010

To
Secretary to Govt. of India,
Ministry of Defence,
Department of Defence Welfare,
101, Fourth Block,
New Delhi- 110011.

Sub. Omission and discrepancies in the Modified Parity in Pension.

Dear Sir,
Kindly refer to our letter dt. 1, July, 2010 in above connection. This organization has observed the following omissions and discrepancies affecting a large number of ex-servicemen and widows which need to be looked into and corrected at your level at the earliest to avoid further frustration and heartburn among the JCO's, SNCO's, NCO's, OR's and Widows.
1. Minimum pension for Defence Pensioners: Minimum pension of Rs. 3500/- for defence pensioners can not be justified by any stretch of law. The amount of minimum pension (Rs. 3500/-) for civilian was fixed by adding the minimum pay in band I i.e. Rs. 5200/- & grade pay of Rs. 1800/- and then divided by 2 which amounts to Rs. 3500/-.
Following the same principle, minimum pension for ex-servicemen amounts to Rs. 4600/- i.e. minimum Pay in Band I- Rs. 5200/- + Grade Pay- 2200/- + MSP Rs. 2000/- and then divided by 2. The additional element of MSP is exclusive for ex-servicemen without which there is no justification of granting minimum pension to ex-servicemen and this minimum pension be paid to widows and reservists too.
2. Grant of same pension to Hony Naib. Sub. as given to regular Naib Sub.: 6th Central Pay Commission has recommended this and the Govt. has already agreed, in principal, to implement the same but it has not been incorporated in the circular 430 dated 10-03-2010.
We request that the same should be implemented at the earliest.
3. Removal of the condition of 10 months pay: Sixth Pay Commission has recommended for removal of condition of 10 months pay in the rank for fixation of pension in that rank but in the orders for modified parity, the govt. has again considered the rank in which the pension was granted initially keeping in view the condition of 10 months pay in that rank. By this many ex-servicemen have suffered a great loss.
4. Discrepancies in the tables issued by Directorate of Pension in department of defence pensioner's welfare: It is further pointed out that there are many glaring discrepancies in the tables prepared by the Govt. in respect of pension of various ranks in Army & Air Force as given below.
As per the tables, certain junior ranks have been authorized more pension than the senior ranks. For example: Sepoy with 15 years of service in Group-X is entitled for Rs. 5368/- PM whereas Naik and Havaildar, with the same years of service and in the same group, are entitled for Rs. 5290/-PM & 5355/-PM respectively. We request the removal of these anomalies at the earliest.
5. Date of implementation of Modified parity in pension: There is no justification granting modified parity in pension to JCO's and below w.e.f. 01-07-2009 since the parity has been given between the pre-1996 and post 10-10-1997 retirees and the same benefit has been already been paid to Hony Officers and above w.e.f. 01-01-1996, way back in year, 1999. We request that orders for modified parity in pension (circular no. 430) be implemented w.e.f. 01-01-1996 instead of 01-07-2009.
In view of above we humbly request that the above omissions and discrepancies be corrected at the earliest to avoid further frustration among the ex-servicemen and widows who are otherwise satisfied with the modified parity in pension granted by the govt.


Sd/-
Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.
President
Copy to:
1. Director (Pension/Policy) Ministry of Defence, 213, A Wing, Sena Bhawan, New Delhi for information and necessary action at his end in respect of Para 4 above. He is also requested to clarify the intention conveyed by the Govt. in the note below Para 3.5, page-2 of its letter no. PC 10 (1)2009-D (Pen/Policy) dt. 8th March, 2010. This refers to our verbal discussion in Pension Adalat at Pathankot on 22-07-2010.


Sd/-
Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.
President

Message received from Tamil Nadu unit of ESSAA: Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Dear Veteran, Regard.
The following message has been received from Tamil Nadu unit of ESSAA for being published in this blog.
Dear veterans,
Regards,First District unit(DHARMAPURI) of TN ESSAA will be formed on 4 July, 2010. Following members will be assuming office:
President- veteran S chinnasamy
VP-veteran S Subramanian
District Coordinator- veteran M Malligarchunan
Treasurer-veteran C Selvam
Joint Secretary- veteran P palani
District Organiser- veteran basuaraj
Election will be held for other positions and investiture ceremony will be held on the same day.Our beloved National President Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS (Retd.) will be addressing the TN ESSAA meeting which is going to be held at Dharmapuri Municipal School. All are welcome. Interested members from other parts of Tamilnadu may contact TN ESSAA.
Veteran K KRISHNA MOORTHY(+919442946688)
Gen. Secretary
Ex-Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Association Tamilnadu

Press Confrence by Ex-Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Association at Patiala on 26-06-2010 at 11:45 AM

Dear Veterans,
Regards.
Ex-Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Association (Regd.), in collaboration with Indian Ex-Services League, Punjab & Chandigarh, will hold a wide ranging Press Conference at Patiala on 26th June, 2010 at 11:45 AM to highlight the anomalies in circular no. 430 dated 10-03-2010 in which certain junior ranks have been authorized more pension than the senior ranks, to seek its implementation w.e.f. 01-01-1996 and its applicability to widow and reservist also. Association will seek a minimum pension of Rs. 4600/- in place of Rs. 3500/-. Association will also demand the removal of condition of ten months pay for fixation of pension and grant of pension to Hony. Naib Sub. equal to a regular Naib Sub. which the govt. has already agreed in principal. A large no. of News Paper correspondents and representative of T.V. channels are likely to attend the press conference.

Veteran Malkiat Singh
Gen. Secretary
Ex-Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Association

Grant of Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) to the Central Government Pensioners residing in areas not covered under CGHS- Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal

Friday, May 28, 2010
Grant of Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) to the Central Government Pensioners residing in areas not covered under CGHS

N0.4/25/2008- P&PW (D )GOVERNMENT OF INDIAMINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS(DEPARTMENT OF PENSION & PENSIONERS/ WELFARE)

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market,New Delhi-110 003, Dated the 26 May 2010.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Grant of Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) to the Central Government Pensioners residing in areas not covered under CGHS.The undersigned is directed to say that in pursuance of Government's decision on the recommendations of Fifth Central Pay Commission, the Govt. had issued instruction vide this Department's O.M. No.45/57/97-P&PW(C) dated 19.12.97 for grant of Fixed Medical Allowance @ Rs.100/- per month to the Central Government pensioners/family pensioners residing in areas not covered under Central Government Health Scheme administered by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and corresponding health schemes administered by other Ministries/Departments for their retired employees for meeting expenditure on their day-to-day medical expenses that do not require hospitalization. Further clarifications were issued vide this Department's O.M. Nos. 45/57/97-P&PW(C) dated 24.8.98, 30.12.98 and 18.8.99.2. The demand for enhancement of FMA has been under consideration of the Government for some time past. Sanction of the President is hereby conveyed for enhancement of the amount of FMA from Rs.100/- to Rs.300/- per month. The other conditions for grant of FMA shall continue to be in force.3. These orders will take effect from 01.09.2008.4. These orders are issued with the concurrence of the Ministry of Finance (Deptt. of Expenditure) vide their I.D. Note No 347/E.V/2010 dated 14.5.2010 and in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India vide their UO No. 36-Audit (Rules)/28-2-9 dated 26.5.2010.6. Hindi version will follow.

(Rajsingh)Director

Defence Pensioners not being paid correct amount o f pension -Gagandeep Ahuja Punjab News line

27-05-2010
Defence pensioners not being paid correct amount of pension- Gagandeep Ahuja Punjab News Online
Defence pensioners not being paid correct amount of pension, alleges association. Gagandeep Ahuja Wednesday, 26 May 2010PATIALA: Ex-Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Association has detected during, a survey held in last month, that a number of defence pensioners, particularly family pensioners, were not being paid correct amount of pension and there are glaring discrepancies in some cases.Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd. President, Ex. Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Association said in a press release that in one such case, Rajinder Kaur, War Widow of Flt. Lt. Gurbax Singh, a General Duty Pilot and War Hero of 1965- War fame, was noticed of being paid a pension of Rs. 3500/- only without element of D.A. i.e. less than an Ordinary Pension of a Sepoy's widow instead of Liberalized Pension of Flt. Lt. (War Causality). Her husband was killed in action on 9th September, 1965 during the war with Pakistan.This case involved the negligencey on the part of Pension Sanctioning Authority i.e. PCDA (Pension, Allahabad) and then Pension Disbursing Authority i.e. State Bank of Patiala, Dharampura Br. Patiala which failed to pay her D.A. on the meager pension, erroneously, granted to her by PCDA (Pension), for the last about four decades.The Association immediately took up the case of payment of D.A. on present pension, with P.D.A. i.e. SBOP, Patiala and got the error rectified, to a great relief resulting in to payment of huge amount of arrear to the widow.The case of enhanced pension to the war widow, Rajinder Kaur, is being taken up by the Association with PCDA, (Pension) Allahabad, along with another case of Stoppage of Service Pension of to Chief Petty Officer, Jaswant Singh, whose pension was stopped by Treasury Officer, Faridkot, the then Pension Disbursing Authority, in year 1974. The Ex-servicemen, who is above 70 years old now, drew his pension for one year and went abroad and returned after ten years to find his pension stopped. He requested his PDA to get his pension restored as per the law but got no response. He then tried his best for about twenty years by writing to various authorities related with the pension but of no avail. During this period his PDA i.e. Treasury Officer, Faridkot misplaced his pension record and washed his hands by making an entry in the pension register that his pension papers were dispatched to PSB. Since then the ex-serviceman is running from pillar to post and writing every one who could help him.Now he has approached this Association for help to get his pension restored. The Association is planning to take up both these cases with the Pension Adalat going to be held in the month of July, 2010 at Pathankot and to write to the concerned authorities in due course.Earlier the organization helped Late. Sub.Sher Singh of Patiala and Late. Ranjit Kaur of Amloh to get them the correct amount of pansion. Late. Sub. Sher Singh of State Forces was being paid Sepoy's pension since long. He got relief through the Association, though belated i.e. a month prior to his deathSimilarly Smt. Ranjit Kaur, widow of Sub. Gurdial Singh, was also being paid the pension of Sepoy's widow which was got enhanced by the Association, that too at the fag end of her life, about two months before her deathThe Association is planning to conduct a detailed survey during the next six months in Punjab through its block level functionaries and submit a consolidated report to Director, (Pension), Deptt. of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi.

AFT directs Army to consider whistleblower for promotion :Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

AFT directs Army to consider whistleblower for promotion:
Vijay MohanTribune,News Service.
Chandigarh, April 30Two days before an Army selection board is to assemble, the Armed Forces Tribunal today ordered that the name of a Lieutenant Colonel who had alleged victimisation for blowing the whistle on his commanding officer, be included in the list of prospective candidates and he be considered for promotion to Colonel.
The petitioner, Lt Col B.S. Goraya, was being considered for promotion by the selection board in December 2009, but a gap in his confidential report profile from September 2008 to May 2009 led to his name being excluded. The Army had debarred his commanding officer to write his confidential report.“In January this year we had also forwarded a statement of case to debar a Major General, the next superior officer in the hierarchy from initiating his confidential report on the ground that it could lack objectivity in assessment due to circumstances of the case,” his counsel, Rajeev Anand said. “The matter was also repeatedly taken up with Army Headquarters,” he added.
Colonel Goraya, Second-in-Command of an Army Supply Corps battalion, had complained against his commanding officer for various irregularities in May 2009. A court inquiry was ordered and the petitioner was attached to Headquarters Western Command in August last.
The bench comprising Justice Ghanshyam Prashad and Lt Gen H.S. Panag observed that it was clear that the officer had taken all legitimate actions to cover the gap in his confidential report profile and the onus was on the Military Secretary’s Branch army to give a decision to regularize the gap.Pointing out that due to no fault of his, the name of the petitioner was withdrawn from the selection board held in December 2009 and the same was likely to happen for the board scheduled in May, the bench directed that the officer be considered in the board due next week and the gap in his profile should not be taken into account to defer him from being considered.

Tribunal finds Major’s dismissal order fabricated -Vijay Mohan,Tribune News Service :Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Tribunal finds Major’s dismissal order fabricated -Vijay Mohan,Tribune News Service.
Chandigarh, April 30
Observing that the termination order of an Army Major seemed to be fabricated and a coloured exercise, the Armed Forces Tribunal today set aside his dismissal and ruled that he be deemed to have superannuated from service.Disposing of a petition filed by Maj SL Sharma, the bench comprising Justice Ghanshyam Prashad and Lt Gen NS Brar also directed that he be given all consequential benefits that are admissible at the time of retirement.
The officer had retired in December 2006 and the dismissal order was communicated to him in February 2007 in a case that had been initiated as far back as 1994.He was posted as the Garrison Engineer at Danapur from 1991-94, when several charges of procedural lapses were levelled against him. A court of inquiry constituted into the matter went on from 1995 to 1998, following which disciplinary action was initiated. His trial by a general court martial (GCM), however, became time-barred in September 2002.
He had moved the Delhi High Court against the trial proceedings and the court had directed the GCM to consider and decide his plea on tie-bar. The bench observed that the authorities took another two years after that to issue him a show-cause notice for termination of services and further two-and-a-half years to arrive at a decision and dismiss him.The bench came to the conclusion that the administrative action taken under Section 19 of the Army Act was a colourable exercise and abuse of administrative power by the authorities, which led led to dismissal of the petitioner . “These are facts which throw serious doubts on the objective handling of the authorities and also lead to the conclusion that the order of dismissal may not be a genuine document,” the bench ruled.

Naval Academy in Punjab: Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

NAVAL ACADEMY : PUNJAB
Jalandhar, April 24
To ensure greater induction of Punjabi youth in the armed forces, the government has decided to set up the first naval academy in the state.
Finance Minister Manpreet Badal said the proposal would be cleared in the coming days and financial allocations would be made soon. The academy would come up either at Ropar or Bathinda both of which have the requisite water bodies and allied infrastructure, he said.“At present, Bihar topped the list of naval personnel while Punjab only has a small percentage of officers and men in the Navy,” he pointed out.Badal was in the city to oversee the preparations by the Jalandhar Sainik Welfare Board to help 104 aspirants get into the armed forces. Jalandhar Cantonment MLA Jagbir Brar accompanied him.Another step taken by the government in this context was setting up of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Academy in SAS Nagar at a cost of Rs 8 crore.
The financial allocation had been made in the Budget and construction would start on the 40-acre plot soon, he added.“Similarly, decks have also been cleared for setting up of a second sainik school in Gurdaspur. The land required for the purpose has been selected and the proposal has also been forwarded to the Centre. Haryana already has two such schools and we are certain that the nod would be given to us in the coming days,” he said.The Finance Minister said the government was committed to set up more such institutes in the future so that a certain number of youth inducted into the armed forces every year.Earlier, he lauded the efforts being made by Lt Col Manmohan Singh (retd), deputy director, Sainik Welfare, for preparing youngsters to get into the armed forces and said the latter had also been given the mandate to ensure that the state should sent the maximum number of officers to the armed forces.
He also assured that he would release the funds for a new National Defence Academy Block, which would come up on the premises of the board, in the next week. Other problems being faced by the board would be resolved soon, he said.

Brig’s dismissal upheld, but will get pension benefits : Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Brig’s dismissal upheld, but will get pension benefits.

Vijay MohanTribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 23:Almost two decades after a brigadier was dismissed by a General Court Martial (GCM) on charges of corruption, the Armed Forces Tribunal today upheld the court martial proceedings, but restored his pensionary benefits.
The tribuanl’s Chandigarh Bench, comprising Justice Ghanshyam Prashad and Lt Gen AS Bahia also ordered that the petitioner, Brig GS Kahlon, would be entitled to arrears of pension from 1992, along would interest at the rate of six per cent.
Kahlon was tried on nine counts of misappropriation of canteen funds with intent to defraud and failure to exercise proper control and supervision while he was the chairman of Headquarters 123 Mountain Brigade unit canteen. He was responsible for functioning of the canteen as well as signing and counter-signing financial documents. The GCM had found him guilty on eight charges.
Kahlon had contended that had been framed and tried arbitrarily. He also contended that some charges did not amount to dishonesty or misappropriation and that he was not in station on some of the dates mentioned in the charges. He had also claimed that there was no loss or gain or any prejudice to any by his acts of signing some documents.
Counsel for the government Capt Sandeep Bansal, on the other hand, argued that the procedures relating to the disciplinary case against the petitioner that had resulted in his conviction were strictly in compliance with the rules and regulations and as per the laid down law.
He also contended that the petitioner, in his arguments before the Tribunal, had taken out isolated statements of some witnesses to prove his innocence. However, there was no corroboration of the same and even otherwise a conjoint reading of the evidence clearly proved the case against him.

Col, Lt Col face court martial for Rs 10-crore milk scam : Veteran PJS Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Col, Lt Col face court martial for Rs 10-crore milk scam:Powder purchased despite adequate stock in store.


Vijay MohanTribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 21:A milk powder scam of nearly Rs 10 crore in Army’s Northern Command has put two senior officers in the dock.
A Colonel earlier posted as the Director Military Farms, Headquarters, Northern Command, and a Lieutenant Colonel, who was the Officer Commanding, Military Farm, Jammu, are facing trial by General Court Martial (GCM) for their alleged acts of omission and commission.
Sources revealed that the GCM’s convening order, issued by the General Officer Commanding 16 Corps, Lt Gen R. Ray on April 5, has listed as many as 27 charges pertaining to intent to defraud and acts prejudicial to good order against the Lt Colonel. The GCM, with Brig Raman Chhibber as the presiding officer, is scheduled to assemble at Akhnoor on April 29.
Between January 2001 and August 2003, nearly 1,526 metric tonnes of skimmed milk power was procured through local purchase despite adequate stocks in the Army stores. Part of the stock procured was transported to stations in Eastern, Western and Central Commands without due sanction and in violation of statutory provisions. The Army has estimated the value of the powder procured to be close to Rs 10 crore.
Further, payments were allegedly made to firms despite the powder not reaching its destinations and some firms were alleged to have been favoured.
The Colonel, on the other hand, is facing charges of failure to exercise requisite supervision and not taking due action during his tenure as director from 2001--2004, when the milk powder was purchased. He also did not allegedly carry out technical inspection, failed to ensure quality tests by Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) and there were irregularities in maintenance of records.
Sources added that a probe into the matter by the CBI revealed that around 100 metric tonnes of milk powder had been moved from Jammu to Punjab. Further, false vehicle numbers were written on documents and no transport charges were mentioned or drawn as per receipt and expense vouchers. The CBI probe also indicated fraudulent entry receipts of consignment in stores.
An Army Court of Inquiry (CoI) also found irregularities in the construction of sheds at the military farm, for which administrative action had been recommended against two other Lieutenant Colonels and a Major, while departmental action was recommended against two civilian employees posted at the farm.
White Mess
i) Over 1,500 MT milk powder bought.
ii) Part of the stock transported to Eastern, Western and Central Commands.
iii) Payments made to firms despite stock not reaching its destinations.
iv) The GCM is scheduled to assemble at Akhnoor on April 29.

Comments:Ex Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Association requests that the case be taken as a test case and examplary punishment be awarded to the persons found found guilty so that such cases are not repeated in future.

Don’t treat Army men shabbily, SC tells govt- A Tribune News:Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Don’t treat Army men shabbily, SC tells govt.
R Sedhuraman-Legal Correspondent
New Delhi, April 1. The Supreme Court has directed the government to treat Army personnel in a “better and more humane manner” in respect of emoluments, pension and other benefits as they were bravely defending the country at the cost of their lives.
A Bench comprising Justices Markandey Katju and AK Patnaik passed the order yesterday while dismissing a government appeal against a Punjab and Haryana High Court verdict, granting disability pension to an officer for the entire 10-year period of commissioned service.
CS Sidhu was given short service commission on June 22, 1968, for five years, which was extendable by another five years. He was posted in a high-altitude field area and while being on duty on November 21, 1970, he met with an accident and suffered severe injuries. As a result of the accident, his right arm had to be amputated and he also suffered a compound fracture in the thighbone and another fracture in the jawbone. He was released from service on June 23, 1978.
For calculating the amount of disability pension, the Army authorities had taken into account only the period between the date of joining and the date of the accident.
Describing as “a pittance” the “meagre pension” of Rs 1,000 a month plus DA granted by the Army to the affected officer, the Bench said, “If this is the manner in which the Army personnel are treated, it can only be said that it is extremely unfortunate.”

Release of retiral benefits at 6th CPC rates for Post-2006 retirees commences :Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Release of retiral benefits at 6th CPC rates for Post-2006 retirees commences
As published on Navdeep’s blog earlier, while the pension of pre-06 retirees had been fixed at the new 6th CPC rates in pursuance of govt orders, post-06 retirees were still being paid pensions at 5th CPC rates which technically stand abolished.It seems that the notice issued in this regard by the Hon’ble Punjab & Haryana High Court has had its effect since the PCDA(P) has started releasing revised benefits for post-06 pensioners.It may be recalled that the delay in release of retiral benefits to post-06 pensioners had led to an incongruous situation wherein personnel who retired during 5th CPC had started receiving pension at 6th CPC rates while personnel retiring during the currency of 6th CPC are receiving pensions at 5th CPC rates.The govt had issued orders for revision of pre-06 pensioners on 11 Nov 2008 and the same orders for post-06 pensioners were issued a day later on 12 Nov 2008.

Election of Haryana State Unit of Ex Soldiers, Sailors & Airmen Association : Veteran Malkiat Singh Gen Secy. ESSAA

Election of Haryana State Unit of
Ex Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Association

In a largely attended meeting of ex-servicemen at Krukshetra,
the following veterans have been,unanimously, elected to form
ad-hoc Haryana State Unit of a national level body of
veterans known as EX SOLDIERS,SAILORS & AIRMEN
ASSOCIATION ( Regd.).
The association is composed of veterans of the rank of
Hony. Offrs. and below. Meeting was presided by
National President of the body of veterans i.e.
Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal who, specially, travelled
to Krukshetra along with veteran Bhupinder Singh Sohi and
veteran Darshan Singh Anand for this purpose.

President :Veteran Balinder Singh Mob. 94162 91969.
Vice President : Veteran Devinder Singh Mob. 90507 68433.
Gen. Secy. : Veteran Ved Rattan Arya Mob. 94672 74747.
Secy. Finance : Veteran Kavinder Singh Mob. 99929 02300.

Veteran Malkiat Singh Gen Secy.
Ex Soldiers, Sailors & Airmen Association.

Meeting of Haryana Ex Servicemen and widows:Malkiat Singh Dhillon,Gen.Secy.Ex Soldiers,Sailors and Airmen Association (Regd.)

Dear Veterans,
Regards. Meeting of Haryana Ex Servicemen and widows is scheduled to be held in Krukshetra on 30 March, 2010 at 10.00 a.m. in Saffron Hotel under the aegis of Ex Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Association.

Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal, the National President of the Association will grace the ceremony of formation of Haryana State Unit and address the veterans

President of Maharashtra State Unit and National Vice President, Veteran Balbir Singh will also address the congregation.

All veterans ( Hony. Offrs and below) and widows of Haryana are requested to attend the same to know the details of Modified Parity in Pension and other benefits for the Pre-2006 veterans.

Veteran Malkiat Singh Dhillon,
General Secretary,
Ex Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Association.
Mob. 098554-09128, Tele-Fax 0175-5000896

Moga jawan’s battle for pension lasted 49 yrs _Vijay Mohan Tribune: Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Moga jawan’s battle for pension lasted 49 yrs:
Vijay MohanTribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 26His tryst with the Army lasted for just about two years, but the battle he waged for pension stretched for 49 long years.Almost five decades after Balbir Singh, a resident of Moga, was invalided out of service on medical grounds, the Armed Forces Tribunal today allowed his writ petition, entitling him pension. The Bench, comprising Justice Ghanshyam Prashad and Lt Gen NS Brar also ordered that he be given arrears of pension for the past three years along with 10 per cent interest.
Balbir had enrolled in the Army in November 1956, but was discharged on medical grounds in November 1958 after he developed health problems. A medical board attributed his disease to be fully attributable to and aggravated by military service and assessed his disability to be above 20 per cent.
He was sanctioned disability pension, but to his shock, it was discontinued from September 1960, even though a review of his disability percentage remained static and there was no change in his condition. No reasons for discontinuing his pension were conveyed to him.
Balbir had contended that ignoring the settled position of law and instructions on the subject, the Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions) rejected the claim of the petitioner presumably on the grounds that the disability percentage assessed by the invaliding medical board was below 20 per cent. This decision, he claimed, was never received by him.
He approached the authorities concerned to get his pension restored, but in the meantime, inadvertently lost the entire correspondence relating to the matter. He had thereafter been making representations to all concerned, but there was no reply or restoration of pension by the authorities.
Finally, he sent a notice through his counsel in September 2008, in response to which he received a copy of letter dated October 31, 1960, that had declined his claim on the ground that his disability had fallen below 20 per cent. And he was, therefore, not entitled to any pension. Thereafter, he sought judicial redressal for his grievance.
Long wait
Balbir Singh had enrolled in the Army in November 1956, but was discharged on medical grounds in November 1958 after he developed health problems. A medical board attributed his disease to be fully attributable to and aggravated by military service and assessed his disability to be above 20 per cent.He was sanctioned disability pension, but to his shock, it was discontinued from September 1960.

Chandigarh, March 26His tryst with the Army lasted for just about two years, but the battle he waged for pension stretched for 49 long years.Almost five decades after Balbir Singh, a resident of Moga, was invalided out of service on medical grounds, the Armed Forces Tribunal today allowed his writ petition, entitling him pension. The Bench, comprising Justice Ghanshyam Prashad and Lt Gen NS Brar also ordered that he be given arrears of pension for the past three years along with 10 per cent interest.
Balbir had enrolled in the Army in November 1956, but was discharged on medical grounds in November 1958 after he developed health problems. A medical board attributed his disease to be fully attributable to and aggravated by military service and assessed his disability to be above 20 per cent.
He was sanctioned disability pension, but to his shock, it was discontinued from September 1960, even though a review of his disability percentage remained static and there was no change in his condition. No reasons for discontinuing his pension were conveyed to him.
Balbir had contended that ignoring the settled position of law and instructions on the subject, the Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions) rejected the claim of the petitioner presumably on the grounds that the disability percentage assessed by the invaliding medical board was below 20 per cent. This decision, he claimed, was never received by him.
He approached the authorities concerned to get his pension restored, but in the meantime, inadvertently lost the entire correspondence relating to the matter. He had thereafter been making representations to all concerned, but there was no reply or restoration of pension by the authorities.
Finally, he sent a notice through his counsel in September 2008, in response to which he received a copy of letter dated October 31, 1960, that had declined his claim on the ground that his disability had fallen below 20 per cent. And he was, therefore, not entitled to any pension. Thereafter, he sought judicial redressal for his grievance.
Long wait
Balbir Singh had enrolled in the Army in November 1956, but was discharged on medical grounds in November 1958 after he developed health problems. A medical board attributed his disease to be fully attributable to and aggravated by military service and assessed his disability to be above 20 per cent.He was sanctioned disability pension, but to his shock, it was discontinued from September 1960.

Punjab Ex-Servicemen Corporation to set up training institutes:Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Ex-servicemen to set up
training institutes:
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 19.The Punjab Ex-Servicemen Corporation
(PESCO) is setting up two institutes at Mohali and Bathinda
for training prospective candidates from Punjab for entry into
the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy.

PESCO’s board of directors, at its meeting held here yesterday,
had earmarked Rs 10 lakh for the project, the corporation’s
chairman and managing director, Maj Gen US Sidhu (retd) said.
In Mohali, the department has leased premises in Phase-VII
from the Department of Child Welfare for running the training
courses, while in Bathinda the courses would be run from the
office complex of the Department of Sainik Welfare.
The PESCO has been allotted three acres of land in Bathinda
where it would build its own complex for carrying out its
activities. The foundation stone of the complex is expected
to be laid this month.
General Sidhu said PESCO was also launching a new scheme
for grant of tractor loans at subsidised rates to ex-servicemen.

Applicants for these loans should possess at least three acres
of land and be below 60 years of age. A sum of Rs 1 crore has
been set aside for this scheme.

MOST IMPORTANT NOTICE FROM Ex Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Association (Regd.): Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Dear Veterans,
Regards. It is for the information all those veterans
whohave taken lot of interest towards the formation
of this organisation ( Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen
Association) and encouraged the undersigned by
submitting thier Consent Form for getting themselves
enrolled as LIFE MEMBERS are, hereby, requested to
submit their Membership Form which stands posted
on this blog and deposit/send their LIFE MEMBERSHIP
FEE as given along with the form by 31-03-2010 so as
enable us form the GOVERNING COUNCIL of the
association.

First General Body Meeting of Association is likely to be
called with in a couple of months.

Members from Dharmapuri (TamilNadu) to note this
(Specially Hony.Sub.Maj. G.NAGARAJAN) as their
number is very large.

Cpl. N.A. Karuppa Swamy, please,send your
Member Registration Form as the same is not traceable
due to problem in my computer. Your ICis pending due
to your Service Number. Pl. send the form by Fax or Post.
All the veterans to note, please. Members can dopit the
membership fee in HDFC bank in their city in the account
of association. Acct. No. 01161450000148 in the name of
Ex Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Association. Thanks.
Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.
President,
EX Soldiers,Sailors and Airmen Association (Regd.)
Mob.098554-09128,Tele-fax 0175-5000896.

Ex-servicemen Armed forces Sixth Pay Commission: Pay Arrears & Salary Hike Details after SC ruling: Veteran Prabhjot Singh PLS Retd.

Ex-servicemen Armed forces Sixth Pay Commission:

Pay Arrears & Salary Hike

Details after SC ruling.

The latest news on Sixth Pay Commission is for the

Ex-servicemen or Armed forces officers, who either

retired or were supposed to retire between 1986 and

1996. There was a court case going on in the Keral

High Court and today the honourable Supreme Court

has upheld the decision of the Keral High Court that

the pay arrears, pension details for Ex-servicemen or

Armed forces officers were calculated incorrectly and

they should be re-recalculated and paid with

retrospective effect from Jan 1, 1986. This will bring in

a big payment of arrears and pension payment for the

retired army officers or Ex-servicemen or Armed forces

officers. These employees, government employees will

be getting the benefits of the Sixth pay Commission

Panel Recommendations as per the new calculations.

How many ex-servicemen or army officers will benefit

from this latest development on Sixth Pay Commission

Recommendations?

Around 30,000 to 40,000 ex-servicemen or retired armed

forces officers who were commissioned or retired between

1986 and 1996, are expected to benefit.

Meeting of ex-servicemen and widows:Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Meeting of ex-servicemen and widows.

Dear Veterans ( Living in Mumbai and adjoining area),
Regards. Next meeting of Mumbai State Unit of Ex Soldiers,
Sailors and Airmen Association is scheduled to be held on
21 March, 2010 ( Sunday ) at 10.00 a.m.

Venue of meeting.
Maruti Tower,Plot No.11,Sec-05,Kamothe,Navi Mumbai ,
Near Venkat Presidency Hotel.All the veterans are requested
to attend the same to know Improved Pension Rates and
other benefits.
Contact No. 9869328402, 9920018982, 9702020412.

Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.
National President,
Ex Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Association.
Mob.98554-09128,tele-fax 0175-5000896.

MoD clears pending pension orders -Tribune News :Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Dear Veterans, Your wait is over.
Finally, MoD has issued the
notification on 8-3-2010. It will
soon reach all of you through net.

Veterans may please note that all this delay was due to
the fact that some of our own (R) own veterans, still having
a sway in MoD.,have been trying to get this delayed so that
JCOs. and below should carry on looking forward to them
for every thing and follow them like MAI BAPP as they did
during active service.
Now those veterans are oppsing the move of Govt. to
abolish the Tradition of Deployment of Sahayak with
officers in Army.
We,all, have to stand,firmly, against them and support
the Govt. in getting this tradition abolished.
Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal
PLS Retd.
President,
Ex Soldiers,Sailors andAirmen
Association( Regd.)

MoD clears pending pension orders:
Ajay BanerjeeTribune News Service

New Delhi, March 10.Just five days after Prime Minister

Manmohan Singh promised in Lok Sabha to address the

issue of pensions for ex-servicemen, the Ministry of

Defence today circulated instructions to implement two

pending matters.
This would increase the pensions of jawans and also

bring the much-awaited parity between persons who

were getting lesser pension than their juniors.
The Ministry has issued orders to bring about parity

between persons who retired before October 10, 1997,

and those who retired after that date. This will be

applicable to all persons below other ranks (PBORS)

of the Army, Air Force and the Navy.
About 12 lakh retired jawans, airmen and sailors, who

form the core of Defence Minister AK Antony’s long-term

welfare measures, will be benefited.
The second part of the latest instructions is to improve

the pensions as per the award of the Group of Ministers

in 2006. This mean the award has been accepted and orders

issued in this regard.
It may be mentioned that these two issues were pending

since last year’s Lok Sabha polls, and even ended up

creating a minor controversy. Media reports were then

published quoting unidentified sources that the same

had been cleared, even as the five-phase polling process

was on.
The Election Commission had sought a clarification and

the Ministry had to clarify that the said media reports

were false.
Sources in the Ministry of Defence today explained that a

Committee under the chairmanship of the Cabinet

Secretary has considered the demands of the ex-servicemen

and made seven recommendations. Five of these had been

cleared and two were pending.
The other five points cleared by the Cabinet Secretary

and implemented by the MoD were:

1.Inclusion of Classification Allowance for PBOR from 1.1.2006;

2.Removal of linkage of full pension with 33 years from 1.1.2006;

3.Revision of Lt Generals’ pension after carving out a separate

pay scale for them;

4.Broad banding percentage of disability/war injury pensions

for pre 1.1.2006 disability/war injury pensioners.

5.Removal of cap on war injury element of pension in the case

of disabled pensioners.
All these moves will collectively cost Rs 2,200 crore to the

exchequer annually.
Implementation of these orders will not only significantly

reduce the gap between the past and the current pensioners

but will also considerably improve the pension of

ex-servicemen, including disabled ex-servicemen. Last week,

the Prime Minister and BJP veteran LK Advani had an

exchange of sharp words over the matter. Advani has

accused the government of going back on its words of

helping the ex-servicemen in and implementing ‘one rank

one pension”.