ANOTHER GOOD NEWS TO EX-SERVICEMEN : SUPREME COURT DIRECTS GOVT. TO PAY MINIMUM 50% OF SCALE AS PENSION.

New Delhi, March 17

In a bonanza to retired employees of the armed forces, the Supreme Court today directed the Centre to pay at least 50 per cent of the pay as pension to all of them as recommended by the 6th Central Pay Commission (CPC).

A Bench headed by Justice TS Thakur passed the order while dismissing about 50 appeals filed by the Centre challenging the rulings of various high courts and armed forces tribunals (AFTs). The HCs and AFTs had struck down the office memorandums (OMs) assessing the pension amount at less than 50 per cent for some categories of pensioners.

Appearing for the Centre, Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand had pleaded that payment of pension at 50 per cent or more would place an additional burden of Rs 1,500 crore. But the Bench said the pensioners were entitled to the CPC recommendations which had been accepted by the government.

They could not be denied of their dues just because some officials, who did not even have the authority to issue the OMs, had misinterpreted the recommendations, the Bench explained.

“We have already affirmed the orders of the HCs and AFTs” in a couple of cases earlier and there was no need for the Centre to come to the SC in each and every such case, the Bench said.

Today’s order should be implemented within four months extending the benefit to all those who were entitled to pension, irrespective of the fact whether they had gone to the AFT/court or not, the Bench clarified.

In one such case, the Delhi High Court had delivered its verdict on April 29, 2013, directing the Centre to ensure that pension was re-fixed at not lower than 50 per cent of the minimum of the pay in the band and the grade pay thereon. Arrears should be paid within two months and any delay would entail 9 per cent interest, it had ruled while dismissing a batch of Centre’s petitions. The HC had said it was in complete agreement with the reasoning of the Punjab and Haryana HC in similar cases.

source-http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/sc-pension-can-t-be-less-than-50-of-pay/55088.html

FURTHER UPDATE ON OROP

Message from ShriThaneswarSen, Chairman, NEXCC.

ShriManoharParikkar, Hon'bleDefence Minister, Government of India, met representative of our organization(NEXCC) led by ShriV.N.Mishra, Secretary General (as Chairman is indisposed).

Where 20/25 minutes cordial discussion had in connection with implementation One Rank One Pension(OROP). He has assured our delegation, that by 1^st week of April,2015, modalities will be finalized & 1^stpayment will be made on 1^st week of May,2015. Arrears will be paid in 4 equal installments.

Considering the deferred assurance given by the Hon’bleDefence Minister, available Central Committee Member in Delhi, decided to defer our agitationalprogramme on 6^th& 7^th April,2015. It is further to intimate that Central Executive Committee to a later date.

The representative also brought to the knowledge of the Hon’bleDefence Minister about the ECHS meeting scheduled to be held on 05^th April, 2015,at New Delhi, also & Military Service Pay(MSP)anomalies, which he assured to look into.

SOME GOOD NEWS FOR VETARANS

Dear Veterans

This refers to arrears paid for increase in pension as per recommendations of 6 CPC to all employees of  of central Government w.e.f. 24 Sep 2012. 

Government has already paid the arrears to civil employees from 1 Jan 2006. However this was denied to Armed Forces personnel on most stupid ground that the arrears will not be paid to those who had not gone to court. 

RDOA had gone to court for arrears to be paid to Armed Forces also. The case was won but the Government decided to file SLP against the SC judgment. The SLP came for hearing on 17 March 15, after many extensions. Honorable SC has declined admission of SLP and asked Government to release payment of arrears w.e.f. 1 Jan 2006 within four months. These arrears are for modified parity in pension paid w.e.f 24 Sep 2012.

Government counsel once again told Honorable SC that the arrears w.e.f 1 Jan 2006 will be paid to only litigants. On this plea Honorable SC had said that this will again increase your and our work load because within few days rest of personnel will soon approach SC for the arrears and Government will have to pay. Therefore it is better that the arrears are paid to all personnel of armed forces. 

Government counsel appealed that Government does not have money for such large payment. On this plea again Honorable SC ruled that if Government can loose thousands of crore in coal blocks this payment is chickenfeed infront of that. Hence the arrears will have to be paid within four months.

These were oral discussions in the court, we will have to wait for formal order by the Honorable SC and the reaction of Government on the judgment. IESM will go to court on behalf of all personnel of Armed Forces in case Government refuses to pay arrears to all affected Armed Forces Personnel.

Please wait for written judgment of Honorable Supreme Court. 

Regards

Gp Capt VK Gandhi VSM
Gen Sec IESM
Flat no 801, Tower N5

Narmada Apartments

Pocket D6 

Vasant Kunj

Nelson Mandela Marg
New Delhi. 110070
Mobile   09810541222

OROP is our right. Dilution in OROP will NOT be accepted.

JEEVAN PRAMAN & ID CARD CAMP IS BEING CONDUCTED AT ECHS SECUNDERABAD

TO DAY ZILLA SAINIK WELFARE OFFICE, RR DIST. ORGANISED EX.SM AWARENESS AND JEEVAN PRAMAN CAMP AT ECHS POLYCLINIC SEC'BAD. DIRECTOR, SAINIK WELFARE TS & SREENESH KUMAR ADDRESSED THE GATHERING. 50 I CARDS ISSUED AND 100 JEEVAN PRAMAN REGNS DONE. EX.SM ARE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THIS PROGRAMME.

All the ex-servicemen are requested to attend and register themselves under Jeevan Praman

FURTHER UPDATE ON OROP

Meeting of IESM Delegation with RM Sh Manohar Parrikar on 2 Mar 2015

IESM contacted Sh Manohar ParrikarRakshaMantri at the end of the budget presented on 28 Feb 15 and communicated to him that ESM in general are disappointed because OROP has not been mentioned in the budget speech of Finance Minister and allocation of funds for OROP has not been announced. RM explained on telephone that OROP has been approved in two budgets and hence it is considered approved and therefore there was no need to mention in the budget speech. He was kind enough to invite the IESM delegation at 1400h on 2 March 15 to clear any doubts if we had any.

Following five members of IESM met Sh Manohar Parrikar RM at 1400h on Monday 2 March 2015.   

1.    Maj Gen Satbir Singh SM

2.    Col KiritJoshipura

3.    Col Anil kaulVrC

4.    Wg Cdr CK Sharma

5.    GpCapt VK Gandhi VSM

6.    Major DP Singh was also invited by RM for discussion on disability pension issue.

RM made everyone comfortable in the beginning itself that OROP for Armed Forces and Ex-servicemen is NDA Government’s commitment and he has worked out the expenditure for the OROP. He advised that there was no need to cover this issue in budget presented by NDA Government on 28 Feb 15  as it already stands approved by Parliament as part of budget for financial year 14-15. He confirmed that he had discussed the issue with officers of MOD and ironed out all issues of OROP. He also confirmed that OROP is genuine demand of Armed Forces and must be met in full; hence there is no difference in thinking of Armed Forces and MOD. Accordingly file has been prepared and is in process for approval from Ministry of Finance. After approval of the file from Finance Minister, it will be put up for approval of CCPA (Cabinet Committee for Political Affairs). RM has confirmed that MOD has recommended giving OROP for X group and Y group separately. He also confirmed that all ranks including widows have been included in the OROP. He further confirmed that he is attempting to meet the date line for issuance of Government letter (OROP Notification) given by him on 1 Feb 15 meeting with IESM delegation.

There was no doubt left in our minds after such a clear statement by RM and IESM delegation was convinced that OROP is now in safe hands will see the day light soon. General Satbir Singh thanked him and told him that it is first time that the demands of ESM are being given proper consideration and attention. IESM delegation then discussed following issues with RM.

1.    Increase in Widow’s pension w.e.f 24 Sep 12; General Satbir Singh informed him that widow’s pension was not increased in 2012 when pension for all ranks was increased as per recommendations of 6 CPC. Widows must be given that increase in pension. RM expressed concerned on this issue and asked the delegation to give him the note for his consideration.

2.    Major’s Pension Retired pre 1996; It was brought to RM’s attention that MOD is not paying Lt Col pension to Major rank officers who retired pre 1996 on completion of 21 years of service. Major Thomas of pre 1996 retirement had gone won the case in AFT and had been paid enhanced pension. It should be applicable for all Majors who had retired pre 1996 and had completed 21 years of service. RM asked for a detailed note on the issue for his consideration.

3.    Major’s Pension who had retired on completion of 20 yrs but with less than 21 yrs of service; RM was informed that there will be only few hundred Majors who will fall in that category and MOD must consider giving them Lt Col Pension with Major’s grade pay as a special case. RM demanded a paper on this issue also for his consideration.

IESM will be sending the detailed paper on above issues to RM at the earliest.

IESM delegation was encouraged with the response and encouragement given by RM. One can now say that OROP is in safe hands will soon be approved.

GpCapt VK Gandhi VSM

Gen Sec IESM

2 Mar 2015

One Rank, One Pension stuck between Services and Defence Ministry

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley arrives in Parliament to present the annual budget 2015-16 in New Delhi on Saturday. (Source: PTI)

By: Press Trust of India | New Delhi | February 28, 2015 5:01 pm

Reinstating government’s commitment on implementing the ‘One Rank, One Pension’ policy, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday said the issue is pending as the method of calculating pension is stuck between the Armed Services and the Defence Ministry.

“I have already in the last Budget said that we are going to implement ‘One Rank, One Pension’. This need not be stated on every occasion. We are completely committed to it,” Jaitley told reporters here when asked about the delay in launching the scheme.

As and when that idea is formulated, not only it should be implemented, it will be implemented, he added.Explaining the reasons behind the delay, the Minister said: “The methodology of calculating the One Rank, One Pension is an issue pending between the Services and the Defence Ministry.”

“You may only notice that I have today, despite the squeeze, increased the allocation for Defence by almost Rs 25,000 crore,” Jaitley said.

Last month, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had said that ‘One rank, One pension’ scheme will be rolled out soon.

The scheme, which seeks to ensure that a uniform pension is paid to defence personnel who retire at the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement, has been a long-standing demand of the over two million ex-servicemen in the country.