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.