Monday, January 31, 2011

Family Pension: Lt Col and Equivalent Ranks

Lt Gen Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman
262, Sector-17A, Gurgaon – 122 001
Mobile-9811226676
IESM/Pension/Family/2011
Dated: 17 January 2011

To:
Mrs Sushma Nath, IAS
Secretary Ex Servicemen Welfare Department
Ministry of Defence
South Block, New Delhi – 110 011

Family Pension: Lt Col and Equivalent Ranks
Widows of Lt Cols and their equivalent ranks had been drawing a monthly pension of Rs 15,420.00 after implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission and after the Lt Cols were upgraded to Pay Band 4. This had been correctly worked out based on 30% of the sum of the minimum of pay band (Rs 37,400) + Grade Pay (Rs 8000) + Military Service Pay (Rs 6000). Widows have accordingly been getting their pension and have also received the arrears. However, an assumed error has now been introduced in the pension tables issued by the Ministry of Defence vide their circular dated 15.11.2010. According to these tables, the family pension of a Lt Col is fixed at Rs 8,760.00. It seems the Lt Col and equivalents have again been brought down to Pay Band 3 by those that prepared these tables.
The figure of Rs 8,760.00 as monthly family pension of Lt Col is beyond comprehension and this has caused avoidable consternation in the Ex Servicemen community, who are already edgy at their still pending demand of ‘one rank one pension’. I do sincerely hope this is only an error. May I request you to have it kindly rectified at the earliest.
A confirmation will be much appreciated.
With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Raj Kadyan

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Rank Pay Case- Government scuttling the Supreme Court orders

Dear Friends,

The rank pay case came up in the Supreme Court today.

The Govt Council put a plea that a lot of similar petions had been filed in various High Courts but all of them have not been transferred to the Supreme Court, as such further hearing should only be held after all such petitions are transferred.
The learned council for the Retired Defence Officers Association pleaded that the Supreme Court has already given its judgement in the case of Maj Dhanapalan case and there is no requirement for transfer of all cases, as the decision in this case will automatically be applicable to all such cases as well as similar placed officers.
The Honble Judge of the Supreme Court then adjourned our case to 24 Jan 2011.
Kindly inform all affected offrs.

With warm Regards,
Col Baldev Singh Dhillon (Retd)