Monthly Archives: August 2018

The pay hike has been made effective from January 1, 2016. Reuters

New Delhi, July 29

The Central Government has decided to pay its employees arrears arising from implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations in one go in their August salaries.The government has already notified the 2.57-time hike in basic salary of one crore employees and pensioners as per the recommendations. The pay hike has been made effective from January 1, 2016.The Finance Ministry also said that the revised pay structure effective from January 1, 2016, would include the Dearness Allowance of 125 per cent provided in the pre-revised pay structure. The rate of the first instalment of DA under revised pay will be announced later.In order to expedite disbursal of arrears, the instructions said the “arrear claims may be paid without pre-check of the fixation of pay in the revised scales of pay”.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)However, it added, that the facilities to disburse arrears without pre-check of fixation of pay will not be available for those public servants who have retired, resigned or dismissed after the date of implementation of the Pay Commission recommendations.The minimum pay in Central Government with effect from January 1, 2016 will now be Rs 18,000 per month, up from Rs 7,000. At the highest level of Cabinet Secretary, the salary would go up from Rs 90,000 a month to Rs 2.5 lakh.There shall be two dates for grant of increment — January 1 and July 1 every year – instead of the existing July 1.The Income Tax would be deducted before payment of arrears. PTI

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat during a press conference. PTI file photo

Mukesh Ranjan &

Shaurya Karanbir Gurung

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 27

Chinese troops transgressed the border on land and by air in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand earlier this month when its men stationed themselves in a dimilitarised zone and its helicopters flew in the Indian air space for over five minutes in the same area, official sources said.The Chinese helicopter violated the Indian airspace on July 25. The land incursion took place on July 22 in Barahoti area of Uttarakhand, prompting the security establishment to review the security along the 350-km border with Tibet. While Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat said this was “something to worry about”, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said the ITBP was seized of the matter.Rawat said revenue officials were mapping the land when they noticed the presence of Chinese troops. An official said a 15-member team consisting of civil and ITBP officials that visited Barahoti found “eight platoons of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.”(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Incursions at Barahoti have occurred in the past too. Of the seven disputed areas between India and China, one of them is Barahoti. The ITBP jawans are not allowed to take their weapons here as per the unilateral decision of the then government in June 2000.  On April 19, 1958, China sent its delegation for talks with the Indian counterparts. Both  agreed not to send troops into the area. 

Chennai, July 23

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday arrived in Chennai to monitor the search operations of the AN-32 aircraft that went missing with 29 people on board.“Reached Tambaram to monitor operations on IAF AN-32 aircraft,” Parrikar tweeted upon his arrival at the suburban air force here.The aircraft of the Indian Air Force went missing on Friday over the Bay of Bengal on its way to Port Blair from here, raising concerns over its fate.A massive search operation has been launched by the IAF, Navy and the Coast Guard for tracking the upgraded plane which made the last radio contact at 8.46 am, 16 minutes after take-off from Tambaram air base on Friday.PRO of the Indian Navy, Captain DK Sharma said the Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard are engaged in intensive search operations to locate the aircraft.As per reports, INS Jalashwa is expected to reach the area on Saturday to assist in the search operations.The AN-32 are being used by the IAF to carry the personnel of the Army, Navy and the Air Force and Coast Guard and defence civilians posted in India’s only integrated command in Andaman and Nicobar.They also carry tonnes of materials like food items and medicines.This is the first time ever an AN-32 has disappeared over the Bay of Bengal.Apart from the Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force, the Tamil Nadu Coastal Police have also participated in the search operations in the possible area of lose of contact by the missing aircraft.The defence authorities have already informed of the incident to the families of the six crew members and the 23 other personnel. A submarine has also rushed to the probable area.The signals of the locator beacon of the aircraft hold the key to the search operation. Agencies

CHENNAI/NEW DELHI: Union defence minister Manohar Parrikar made a brief pit stop at Chennai’s Tambaram airbase on Saturday morning before leaving to monitor the ongoing search for the IAF AN-32 airplane missing since Friday.

“As of now, a massive search operation is in progress, braving prevalent monsoon weather conditions and poor visibility, wherein the IAF, Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard have pooled in all available resources to look for any possible sign of the aircraft in this vast swath of the Bay of Bengal between Chennai and Port Blair,” an IAF official said.

The Russian-made Antonov-32 plane disappeared about 280km off the coast of Chennai. Those onboard included six crew members, 15 personnel from the IAF, army, navy and coast guard, and eight civilians who were family members of the personnel.

Parrikar was briefed by senior navy and air force officials before boarding his plane to conduct an aerial survey of the ongoing search and rescue operation.

Meanwhile, the wife of one of those missing was hopeful of his return. “Nothing will happen to my husband. I am confident he will return safely,” said Purnima to her relatives. Purnima’s husband, Pati Nagendra Rao, is a fitter in the Naval Armament Depot (NAD) in Visakhapatnam.

At 34-year old Nagendra’s residence in Lakshminagar, relatives, residents and politicians consoled Purnima. Nagendra’s two sons — six-year-old Sai Praneeth and three-year-old Nihar — have been unable to comprehend the bustle around their home. Nagendra’s parents, Prakash Rao and Eshwari, are in a state of deep shock.

The situation at the residence of 55-year-old Nammi Chinna Rao is no different. Ever since NAD authorities informed them of the missing plane, his family — a wife, two sons and a daughter — have been distraught. Rao, who was working as tradesman mate (TMM) in NAD for the last 25 years, contacted the family on Friday morning. “In the evening, at around 4pm, we got a call from authorities that there is no trace of my father as the flight is missing,” his son told Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who called on the families on Saturday morning.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has directed the military establishment to take possession of the scam-tainted 31-storey Adarsh Apartments in the heart of Mumbai and maintain the building with 102 flats till the disposal of Adarsh Housing Society’s appeal against the Bombay High Court’s April 29 order of demolition. A Bench asked the Bombay HC’s Registrar to ensure that the housing complex was handed over to the Military Estate Director on or before August 5. All residents vacated the complex in 2010 as the authorities cut off water and power supply on court orders. The HC has also ordered criminal proceedings against politicians and bureaucrats for their role in illegal construction of the tower. tns

Snafu, made famous by Joseph Heller’s “Catch 22”, accurately captures the situation in Kashmir. Snafu stands for Situation-Normal-All-Fouled-Up. Internet and mobile services are shut, a curfew has been imposed in many towns and hospitals even in faraway Amritsar are treating people maimed by gunfire while over 30  youths are dead. The Indian state and Jammu and Kashmir’s elected representatives are trying their utmost to break the cycle of deaths, demonstrations and more deaths after the security forces killed an urbane and photogenic militant Burhan Wani. What the situation didn’t require was for Pakistan to wade into the mess. Over the past few days, Islamabad’s energetic exertions have spanned from briefing every sundry envoy available in the Pakistani capital to locking horns with the Indian representative in the United Nations.Pakistan invariably acts as the class monitor every time the security situation deteriorates in Kashmir. It is primarily to remind the world, as also its citizens, that its covetousness for territory has a moral underpinning. This time, Pakistani statements laden with brimstone and fire serve the double purpose of keeping away the regime changers from an ailing and tainted Prime Minister’s doorstep. One killing and an eruption of protests has gifted Nawaz Sharif an opportunity to shore up his political capital. While no politician will let go of an opportunity, more so in a democratically brittle state like Pakistan, it has done the Kashmiris and their cause no good. This unending stream of invectives from Pakistan has got India’s back up. Once the Kashmir issue transmogrifies into an India-Pakistan slanging match, introspection is the casualty. Separatist leaders may feel comforted by this unequivocal backing, but Pakistan’s active insertion has narrowed the space for saner elements to push for normalisation of the situation. It has also shut the debate on whether gunfire is the only answer in J&K or elsewhere. What we see instead is the government’s veiled warning for “responsible” coverage by media and peaceniks on social media getting labelled as Pakistani stooges and worse. Calming down of Kashmir will have to await another day.

चंडीगढ़। रक्षा मंत्रालय की वन रैंक वन पेंशन योजना को चंडीगढ़ आर्म्ड फोर्स ट्रिब्यूनल (एएफटी) में चुनौती दी गई है। सोमवार को वन रैंक वन पेंशन (ओआरओपी) के खिलाफ कुल आठ याचिकाएं दायर हुईं। ट्रिब्यूनल के जस्टिस प्रकाश कृष्णा व लेफ्टिनेंट जनरल डीएस सिद्धू की बेंच ने रक्षा मंत्रालय को नोटिस जारी कर जवाब मांगा है।

Tribune News Service

Udhampur, July 8

There were two turning points in the Kargil war —capture of Tololing and Tiger Hill — the physical and psychological blow to the adversary after the latter was captured by 8 Sikh Regiment, which brought the war to an end in Kargil.The regiment, colloquially referred to as “Chardhikala” regiment, celebrates its victory against all odds in a very solemn and pious manner to commemorate the contribution of those who made the supreme sacrifice on 6 July 1999. There were attacks, deception, blocks and beating back of number of repeated fierce counterattacks. The “Chardhikala” Battalion did all this with unparalleled determination till the feature had the Indian Tricolour flying proudly atop it. Success came with its own price. The battalion lost one officer, four junior commissioned officers and 30 jawans in the battle of Tiger Hill.

Tributes paid

• After the Tiger Hill was captured by 8 Sikh Regiment, the war came to end in Kargil
• The regiment commemorated the contribution of those who made the supreme sacrifice on July 6, 1999.

Handicapped children of government employees and pensioners are eligible for lifelong pension irrespective of age in case there is no other eligible claimant in the family.

The Armed Forces Tribunal’s Chandigarh bench has dismissed a petition filed by the Army Headquarters asking for ‘Leave to Appeal’ in the Supreme Court to challenge the grant of pension to a handicapped son of a former soldier even though a cabinet decision exists to grant pension in such cases.

Handicapped children of government employees and pensioners are eligible for lifelong pension irrespective of age in case there is no other eligible claimant in the family. Vinod Kumar, an 80 per cent handicapped son of an Army jawan of the rank of Naik was, however, refused his pension on the interpretation that handicapped children who got married were not eligible for pension. The AFT had held in 2010 that no such condition could be imposed and had directed the Government to release the pension to Vinod Kumar.

Later in the year 2013, on the directions of the Union Cabinet, a letter was issued by the Central Government clarifying that even married handicapped children shall remain eligible to pension thereby settling the controversy once and for all.

Contrary to government policy issued after cabinet’s sanction, the Army HQ filed an application in the AFT seeking leave to appeal to the SC stating that it wanted to challenge the verdict since it involved a point of law of “general public importance”.

Lawyers familiar with litigation, involving the Defence Services, say that the Army HQ has been directing government lawyers to file such appeals in many cases which have attained finality even at the SC. There has been a spate of applications for filing appeals and reviews against disabled soldiers and even in the issue of enhanced pension of Honorary Naib Subedars which have already been decided by the SC and in which even the Attorney General had asked the three service chiefs not to file further appeals since it was causing embarrassment to the government.

Lawyers further say that unlike the Air Force and the Navy, the Army HQ seldom strongly protests or informs the senior functionaries about the correct legal position when any entity in the MoD asks it to file an appeal, opting to rather obey rather than recording on file the law laid down by the SC.

The All Indian Ex-Servicemern Association had earlier pointed out to the Defence Minister that litigation by the Government had become “lucrative business” and officers were flaunting ‘legal opinions’ to justify appeals when the matter had been settled by the apex court and directions had been issued even by the Prime Minster and Defence Minister to reduce such litigation.

A lawyer dealing with the subject says that nothing would change unless courts impose personal costs on officers of the Army and MoD who are directing the filing of such appeals and reviews in settled matters.

In the past, while the Army HQ has been claiming that it is the MoD which asks it to file appeals, the MoD has been putting the blame on the Army HQ. Recently, multiple applications for appeals against disabled soldiers were filed by the Army HQ even when the SC had directed the grant of disability pension to them based on a series of consistent orders.

Sources say, crores of rupees are spent on govt lawyers by the three services by filing infructuous appeals in settled matters by alleging artificial distinctions. It is also said that rather than following law laid down by the SC or the political executive, officials tend to give more weight to legal advice by government lawyers in favour of filing appeals.