Demands of Defence Ex-servicemen on OROP requiring immediate action

One Rank One Pension and issues of concern of Defence Veterans needing urgent resolution: IESM writes to MPs

ONE RANK ONE PENSION (OROP) & ISSUES OF CONCERN OF DEFENCE VETERANS NEEDING URGENT RESOLUTION

Dear Veterans,

Letter to Members of Parliament on the above subject dated 02 Nov 2019 is enclosed herewith for your information widest circulation please.
.
With Regards,

Jai Hind,

Yours Sincerely,

Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM (Retd),
Advisor United Front of Ex Servicemen &
Chairman Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM)

Dated:  02 Nov 2019

"ONE RANK ONE PENSION (OROP) & ISSUES OF CONCERN OF DEFENCE VETERANS NEEDING URGENT RESOLUTION"

Dear Members of Parliament,

1.      We wish to bring to your notice that long pending demand of defence fraternity of OROP has not yet been implemented. Hon’ble Prime Minister and President of BJP Sh. JP Nadda have time and again stated at various forums that OROP has been implemented.  With grievously hurt feelings and anguish, we wish to inform you that such statements by our Hon’ble Prime Minister are of serious concern to us.  Had the OROP been implemented as per the definition stated by MoS Sh. Rao Inderjit Singh on 02 Dec 2014 in the parliament, the Ex Servicemen would not have been on the road across the country protesting for the non-implementation of OROP.  On 31 Oct 2019, Ex Servicemen have completed 1600 days of continuous Protest Movement executed peacefully with dignity, respect and in the best traditions of soldiering.

2.      There are serious anomalies in the Govt of India Min of Def Notification No 12 (I)/2014/D (Pen/Pol)-part –II dated 07 Nov 2015 wherein the Govt is purported to have implemented OROP.  The serious anomalies have been brought to the Notice of the Govt on numerous occasions, but these anomalies have not yet been rectified.  Ex-servicemen were forced to approach Hon’ble Supreme Court for grant of full OROP.  Hon’ble Supreme Court in its order dated 01 May 2019 (copy attached).  Asked the MoD to resolve the anomalies to the extent possible and the next date of hearing was to take place on 06 Aug 2019.  However, the Hon’ble judge hearing the case was busy in hearing Ram Mandir Case and our OROP case hearing was not listed.

3.      In the meantime we had a meeting with Hon’ble Raksha Mantri on 01 Jul 2019 and briefed him about Hon’ble Supreme Court order and requested for the rectification of the OROP anomalies. Hon’ble Raksha Mantri assured us for another meeting after a few days for the resolution of OROP anomalies; however, that meeting has not taken place even after writing to Hon’ble Raksha Mantri a number of times.

4.      During an Election Rally at Chandigarh President of BJP Sh. JP Nadda stated that his Govt had implemented OROP.  The same was denied by Ex-servicemen bodies. To add to our hurt feelings, Hon’ble Prime Minister on 19 Oct 2019 at Rewari in another Election Rally, again stated that his Govt had implemented OROP.  We wish to inform that this is far from truth.  OROP has not been implemented; what has been implement is One Time increase in Pension.  Unless the OROP anomalies are rectified, grant of Full OROP will remain unfulfilled.

5.       We also wish to inform you that equalization of pensions of defence personnel was due with effect from 01 Jul 2019 as per Govt Notification dated 07 Nov 2015, but the same has not yet been carried out. The Govt which had issued the notification has not honored its own order of equalization of Pensions after every five years which became due with effect from 01 Jul 2019. We had through a letter dated 03 Sep 2019 written to Hon’ble Raksha Mantri, copy to Hon’ble Prime Minister and three Chiefs and also forwarded the same letter to Secretary (ESW) requesting for immediate equalization of pensions as notified in Govt Notification dated 07 Nov 2015. MoD, instead of implementing equalization of pensions, ordered another committee whose recommendations have not been made public. The outcome of another, “One Man Judicial Committee (OMJC)” which submitted its report to the Govt on 26 Oct 2016 headed by Justice L. Narasimha Reddy, retired Chief Justice of Patna High Court has neither been made public nor implemented.

6.      We appeal to our elected representative, Hon’ble Members of Parliament to raise our issues of concern in the coming winter session and ask the Govt to grant Full OROP to the defence personnel, a demand which is long pending, though it had been accepted by both NDA and UPA Govts but not yet implemented. Our Hon’ble Member of Parliament, with anguish we wish to say that “any country which does not respect its soldiers is doomed to fail”.

Please grant Justice to Soldiers.

With Regards,

Jai Hind,

Yours Sincerely,

Maj Gen Satbir Singh,

SM (Retd), Advisor United Front of Ex Servicemen &

Chairman Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM)

Mobile: 9312404269, 01244110570

Email:satbirsm[@]gmail.com

(Source Via e-mail)

http://ex-servicemenwelfare.blogspot.com

PCDA Circular No. 625 - One Rank One Pension to the Defence Forces Personnel: Amendment in Appendix 'X' of Circular No. 555

PCDA Circular No. 625 - One Rank One Pension to the Defence Forces Personnel: Amendment in Appendix 'X' of Circular No. 555

O/o The Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pension),

Draupadighat, Allahabad — 211014

Circular No 625

Dated 31.07.2019

To,

1.     The Chief Accountant, RBI, Deptt. Of Govt, Bank Accounts, Central Office, C-7, Second Floor,  Bandre- Kurla Complex, P B No. 8143, Bandre East Mumbai-400051
2.     CMDs, All Public Sector Banks.
3.     The Nodal Officers, IC1ICI/HDFC/AXIS/IDBI Banks
4.     All Managers, CPPCs
5.     Military and Air Attache, Indian Embassy, Kathmandu, Nepal
6.     The PCDA (WC), Chandigarh
7.     The CDA (PD), Meerut
8.     The CDA, Chennai
9.     The Director of Treasuries, All States
10.     The Pay and Accounts Officer, Delhi Administration, R K Puram; and Tis Hazari, New Delhi.
11.     The Pay and Accounts Office, Govt of Maharashtra, Mumbai
12.     The Post Master, Kathua (J&K); and Camp Bell Bay.
13.     The Principal Pay and Accounts Officer, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, Port Blair.

Subject:- One Rank One Pension (OROP) to the Defence Forces Personnel.

Reference:- GoI. MoD letter No. 12(1)/2014/D(Pen/Policy)-Part-II dated 3rd Feb 2016 (Circular No. 555 dated 04.02.2016).

Pension Disbursing Agencies (PDAs) are aware that as per this office Circular No. 555 dated 04.02.2016, pension of Armed Forces Personnel was to be revised w.e.f. 01.07.2014 by the PDAs as per tables attached with the circular.

2. Term of engagement mentioned in Appendix “X” of Circular No. 555 dated 04.02.2016 for Honorary Flying Officer (HFO) of Air Force may be read as 21 to 33 years w.e.f. 30.5.1998 till date.

3. This Circular has been uploaded on this office website www.pcdapension.nic.in for dissemination of all concerned.

 No. Gts/Tech/0167/Vol-XX
Dated: 31.07.2019

(Yashasvi Kumar)

Dy. CDA (Pensions)

One Rank One Pension (OROP)

Press Information Bureau,
Government of India
Ministry of Defence

18-November, 2016

One Rank One Pension (OROP)

Government had appointed a Judicial Committee headed by Justice L. Narasimha Reddy, retired Chief Justice of Patna High Court on 14.12.2015, to look into anomalies, if any, arising out of implementation OROP.

The Terms of Reference for the Committee is as under:

To examine and make recommendations on references received from the Central Government on the following matters:

• Measures for the removal of anomalies that may arise in implementation of the OROP letter No. 12(1)/2014/D(Pen/Pol)/ Part-II dated 07.11.2015.
• Measures for the removal of anomalies that may arise out of inter-service issues of the three forces due to implementation of OROP order ibid.
• Implications on service matters.
• Any other matter referred by the Central Government on implementation of the OROP or related issues. In making its recommendations, the Committee shall take into account the financial impact of its recommendations.

The Committee has submitted its report on 26.10.2016 which is under examination. During the Financial year 2016-17, a sum of Rs. 12456 crore has been provided for expected expenditure on account of One Rank One Pension (OROP).

The status of payment to the Defence Pensioners/ Family Pensioners on account of implementation of OROP benefits, as on 03.11.2016 are as under:

Beneficial pensioners (pre-July 2014)	No. of cases paid (1st instalment and lump-sum payment	Amount disbursed (in crore)	No. of cases paid (2nd instalment)	Amount disbursed (in crore)
20,63,529	19,35,968	3927.86	12,37,511	1817.29

Out of 20,63,529 pensioner beneficiaries, 1,27,561 Defence Pensioners/Family Pensioners are yet to get the benefits of OROP. Public Grievance Cell in the Department is receiving grievances of the pensioners/family pensioners and taking up the matters with the concerned Department for redressal of their grievances. Disposal of grievances is monitored at the highest level in the Government.

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Shri Alok Sanjar and others in Lok Sabha today.

PIB

Differences on perfect definition of OROP : Defence ministry has remained a labyrinth - not easy to tame: Major Navdeep Singh

Differences on perfect definition of OROP :  Defence ministry has remained a labyrinth - not easy to tame: Major Navdeep Singh

With political parties trading charges on the suicide of ex-soldier Ram Kishan Grewal on OROP, emotions are running high on both sides. Major Navdeep Singh, advocate in Punjab and Haryana high court, who was a member of the defence minister’s committee of experts to review service and pension matters which submitted its report in 2015, talked to Nalin Mehta about the OROP controversy and why the ministry of defence needs urgent reforms:

What is the current problem with OROP implementation which could have led to this suicide?

There are conflicting reports about the sad demise of the veteran. Some seem to suggest that he was perturbed about non-release of the approved pension under the OROP scheme by his bank. If that is the case, then it is really unfortunate since that would mean that an amount legally approved by the government was not disbursed to him.

Overall the ministry of defence claims to have disbursed Rs 5,507 crore in two instalments for OROP. Apart from other issues, the problem also seems to be in the distribution mechanism down the chain, particularly at the level of bank branches. This needs to be fixed.

Government is implementing OROP but what about the larger veteran demand that what they have got is one rank many pensions, not one rank one pension?

Various sides have differed upon the perfect definition of OROP. Many veteran organisations have interpretational differences with OROP as notified, including the periodicity of revision. Then there were serious anomalies in OROP tables which were being looked into by a judicial committee. The committee has submitted its report. I think all sides should hold their horses till this is processed. In case, there still are problems, tackle them through remedies provided under law rather than politicise a sensitive subject. A democracy provides full opportunity to exercise legal rights in case of dissatisfaction. I personally do not agree to an approach of excessive emotional rhetoric which has the propensity of stoking discontent.

What about disability pensions and the controversy on downgrading of status? How does that square with the pedestal armed forces are being put on?

The disability pension controversy was shockingly unfortunate and its origin was the twisted data and a sadistic interpretation provided to the 7th Pay Commission on disabled soldiers. In case disabilities in the defence services are increasing due to a higher stress and strain of military life, the answer is to take steps to check the deteriorating health profile and increase the payouts to compensate loss of health, not to slash disability pensions! Ditto for status issues since such moves are unilaterally imposed and result in deleterious effect on morale.

Chest thumping and governmental downgrading can’t go hand in hand. Does government’s left hand not know what it is doing?

Irrespective of the party in power, the ministry of defence has remained a labyrinth which is not easy to tame. There are structural problems wherein the defence services or even other stakeholders are not a part of the decision-making process and a one-sided view is provided to the higher layers. There is no opportunity granted to rebut or check the veracity of what is put up to decision-making authorities. It is not that one hand does not know what the other is doing, actually one hand does not let the other know what it is doing.

What kind of reforms do we need to fix the problems in MoD?

Two very simple suggestions without tinkering with the basic structure. First, the decision-making should be collegiate: probably by a ‘Defence Board’ chaired by the defence minister with a total of three-five members, with inputs of neutral personalities and experts wherever required. When files move up, these should be referred to all stakeholders for their comments so that nobody is able to hoodwink the decision-makers by mischief. Second, there is no institutional mechanism currently for the political executive to know the pulse of the problems of serving defence personnel and veterans, like there is for civil employees and pensioners. This assumes even higher importance since defence personnel (rightly) cannot form associations. Hence, a participative system akin to the Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM) for civil employees should be constituted to resolve grievances.

Similarly, the government had admirably constituted a standing committee for veterans in October 2014 which was to meet after every three months, but the lower bureaucracy has ensured that not even one meeting has taken place till date. The current defence minister appears to be keen to take the bull by the horns, but all personalities should support him in a politically neutral manner rather than pinpricking him all the time.

Read at: Times of India Blog

Supreme Court seeks government response on ex-servicemen plea on OROP

Supreme Court seeks government response on ex-servicemen plea on OROP

New Delhi: Supreme Court today sought the government’s response on a plea of an ex-servicemen’s body seeking implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) as recommended by the Koshyari Committee with an automatic annual revision, instead of the current policy of periodic review once in five years.

A bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and C Nagappan issued notice and sought the response from the government in eight weeks.

The Indian Ex-servicemen Movement (IESM) and others have challenged the government’s policy of periodic review of pension once in five years, saying such an approach was dilution of the February 26, 2014 announcement by which the revision in pension was to automatically pass on to the past pensioners on an annual basis.

They have contended that five-yearly periodic review did not meet the demand of the ex-servicemen seeking OROP for the service personnel who had retired with same length of service in the same rank.

“OROP is the uniform desire of all three defence services. Ex-servicemen are presently drawing pension that is not consistent with their rank and/or length of service. In fact, some ex-servicemen are even drawing lesser pension than other ex-servicemen who retired with a subordinate rank or (in the same rank) which is unjust and unconstitutional,” the petition said.

It said that the Centre’s February 3, 2016 letter sent to the chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force on OROP was “unjust, arbitrary and violative of Article 14 and 21 of the constitution.”

The plea sought a direction to the Centre “that the pension of past pensioners be automatically and contemporaneously enhanced, whenever there is any future increase or enhancement in the rates of pension.”
It further said the government should be directed to fix the pension on the basis of highest pension of financial year 2014-15 and not 2013.

IESM in its petition has referred to the December 19, 2011, report of Rajya Sabha’s Petition Committee then headed by Bhagat Singh Koshyari which rejected all reservation advanced by the government while “strongly recommending” OROP.

In its 142nd report, the Koshyari Committee had said, “the Committee strongly recommends that Government should implement OROP in the defence forces across the board at the earliest”.

PTI

Extension of date of Public Notice for addressing anomalies on One Rank One Pension(OROP)

Extension of date of Public Notice for addressing anomalies on One Rank One Pension (OROP)

F. No. 12(39)/2015/D(Pen/Pol)(Part-V)
Ministry of Defence
Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare
D(Pension/Policy)

New Delhi,

Dated 09.05.2016

Public Notice for addressing anomalies on One Rank One Pension (OROP)

Government of India, Ministry of Defence, Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare vide Public Notice No. 12(39)/2015/D(Pen/Pol)(Part-V) dated 13.04.2016 had invited representation, suggestions/views on the revised pension as notified under OROP order dated 03.02.2016, to the MoD, DESW through post or by email by 29th April 2016.

2. Keeping in view several representations received requesting for the extension of last date for submission of representation, suggestions/views on the revised pension as notified under OROP orders, the last date of the submission of representation, suggestions/views has been extended upto 15th May 2016.

Postal Address: Under Secretary/D(Pension/Policy)
Room No. 220A,
‘B’ Wing
Sena Bhawan; New Delhi-110011
Email ID: us-pen-pol@desw.gov.in

(R.K. Arora)
Under Secretary (Pension/Policy)
Tele: 01123012973

Signed copy download here-Public Notice for addressing anomalies on One Rank One Pension (OROP)

Latest news on One Rank One Pension : In future pension would be re-fixed every 5 year

Latest news on One Rank One Pension : In future pension would be re-fixed every 5 year


The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP). The details are as follows:

1. The benefit will be given with effect from 1st July, 2014.

2. Pension will be re-fixed for pre 1.7.2014 pensioners retiring in the same rank and with the same length of service as the average of minimum and maximum pension drawn by the retirees in the year 2013. Those drawing pensions above the average will be protected.

3. The benefit would also be extended to family pensioners including war widows and disabled pensioners.

4. Personnel who opt to get discharged henceforth on their own request under Rule 13(3) 1(i)(b), 13(3) 1(iv) or Rule 16B of the Army Rule. 1954 or equivalent Navy or Air Force Rules will not be entitled to the benefits of OROP. It will be effective prospectively.

5. Arrears will be paid in four half-yearly instalments. However, all the family pensioners including those in receipt of Special/Liberalized family pension and Gallantry award winners shall be paid arrears in one instalment.

6. In future, the pension would be re-fixed every 5 year.

7. Constitution of Judicial Committee headed by Justice L. Narasimha Reddy, Retd. Chief Justice of Patna High Court on 14.12.2015 which will give its report in six months on the references made by the Government of India.

The implementation of OROP will result in enhanced pension for the pensioners/family pensioners of Defence Forces. The setting up of the Judicial Committee headed by Justice L. Narasimha Reddy will help in the removal of anomalies that may arise in the implementation of OROP order dated 7.11.2015.

Financial implications on account of grant of OROP including Pre-Matured Retirees (PMR) cases would be Rs. 10925.11 crore for payment of arrears and annual financial implication would be Rs. 7488.7 crore. Till 31st March, 2016, 15.91 lakh pensioners have been given the first instalment of OROP, which amounts to Rs. 2,861 crore. Information is being gathered for processing on priority basis, the cases of 1.15 lakh pensioners after filling in the gaps of information such as the length of service being assessed, etc.

Source: PIB

7th Pay Commission Latest News – Don’t think 7th CPC Suggestions will Remain – Parrikar

7th Pay Commission Latest News – Don’t think 7th CPC Suggestions will Remain – Parrikar

“The seventh Pay Commission is in the form of recommendations. I do not think they (recommendations) will remain. I do not consider them as finalities. I have flagged them and will flag them properly at the right level,” said the defence minister.

7th Pay Commission Latest News – Don’t think 7th CPC Suggestions will Remain – “I will not claim that I have turned it around completely but at least something has been done so that deliveries can start. Ground has been prepared. Delivery is now the key word,” said Parrikar.


Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday said the recommendation of 7th Pay Commission was not final and he would take up concerns raised by the Armed Forces at the right level.

In an exclusive interview with the India Today, Parrikar said he has prepared ground for smoothening the defence procurement which needed to be backed by deliveries now.

On the concerns raised by the Armed Forces over the raw deal given to them in the 7th Pay Commission, Parrikar said it was not the final word. “The seventh Pay Commission is in the form of recommendations. I do not think they (recommendations) will remain. I do not consider them as finalities. I have flagged them and will flag them properly at the right level,” said the defence minister.

Parrikar, who inaugurated arms show DefExpo in Goa on Monday where a strong pitch is being made to further expand the growing defence sector, said negative environment surrounding the military acquisitions has changed.

“I will not claim that I have turned it around completely but at least something has been done so that deliveries can start. Ground has been prepared. Delivery is now the key word,” said Parrikar adding that there was an environment of mistrust, suspicion which can be frustrating in dealing with forces.

He said the industry cannot be held responsible for responding slowly to the changing atmosphere. “They have experienced a congested atmosphere and the breeze has only now begun flowing in. However, it cannot happen overnight. Confidence building measures are in place. Industry has begun responding,” he said outlining how smaller changes have been made.

“Offsets have taken off, exports are improving, procurement from local level has gone up. At the capital procurement level, it has not taken off or turned into a big deal because it takes longer. Industry has definitely responded.” Talking about the defence reforms like the appointment of a Chief of Defence Staff, Parrikar said there are no hurdles in bringing defence reforms. “There has to be a rational decision. Drafts are being prepared and shared. Very soon it will be brought to the Cabinet,” he said.

Asked about delay in development of critical equipment like Intermediate Jet Trainers (IJT) for the IAF or submarines for the navy, Parrikar said the air force does not think the IJT is a requirement as it is training on simulators, Basic Trainer Aircraft and Advanced Jet Trainer. “Instead of three, it is a two-level, re-caliberated approach. The proposal for six under-construction Scorpene submarines is moving smoothly. Next project P75, I will tag along with our policy document on Strategic Partnership,” Parrikar said.

“When it will come about? Very soon, but I am not willing to issue a timeline. As far as Arihant, the issue should not be discussed. We are equally concerned and are moving in the right direction,” he said. The three services raised a number of issues, but when the pay commission sought the defence ministry’s comments and recommendation, the ministry negated most of the demands of the services, the officer said.

Source: India Today

OROP Arrears Table : 1St Instalment (1/4) WEF 01 Jul 14 to 29 Feb 16

OROP Arrears Table for Sepoy and NK Group ‘Y’

 

OROP Arrears Table for NK & NK(TS) and Hony Hav Group ‘Y’

 

OROP Arrears Table for Hav and Hony Sub Group ‘Y’

 

OROP Arrears Table for Nb Sub and Subedar Group ‘Y’

OROP Arrears Table for Sub Maj Group ‘Y’ and Hony Lt

 

OROP Arrears Table for Hony Capt and NCs(E)

ARREARS - 1st INSTALMENT Spread Sheet ; LINK HERE

Source: http://rajasthanveterans.blogspot.in/