Monthly Archives: August 2018

New Delhi, May 19

The Central Bureau of investigation (CBI) has booked two former Major Generals for alleged corruption in conducting Group C and D examinations in the Survey of India in 2002, resulting in wrong selection of 44 candidates as those who had succeeded were made to fail, officials said on Tuesday.

The FIR has been registered against then Brigadier MV Bhat, Director, Survey Training Institute (STI), and then Brigadier KRMK Babaji Rao, Deputy Surveyor General, STI. Both of them retired as Major Generals, they said.

Other names include JK Rath and R Rama Singh, the then officials of STI.

The agency has registered the FIR after a two-year-long preliminary inquiry based on a complaint from a vigilance officer in the Ministry of Science and Technology who alleged malpractices in compilation of marks in the answer sheets of the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination for Group D to C Topo Trades held during October 2002 in the Survey of India. It was alleged that candidates who had passed were made to fail and vice versa, resulting in wrong selection of 44 candidates. The agency had alleged that answer sheets were deliberately manipulated by accused officers to favour selected candidates, they said. — PTI

Ad

he utility of officers employed for the proposed three-year service would be highly suspect. We will end up being flooded with officers of the Captain rank who will be going around looking for odd jobs in the civil market. To draw on the right material that can meet the demands of exacting standards of performance in the defence services, the terms and conditions offered for short service commission have to be attractive enough.

Lt Gen Harwant Singh (Retd)

Military Commentator

THE news that the Army is considering a proposal to allow civilians to join the force for three years, claimed to be an effort to attract talented young people, is laughable. How does one attract good talent with the offer of just three years’ service? What will be the utility of an officer when taken in for such a short period is the question the higher command needs to address.

The proposal is part of efforts to bring in reforms in the 13 lakh-strong Army. The military appears to be under pressure to cut its expenses in every possible manner. This is in keeping with the proposal to reduce the defence budget. The military’s higher command, in response to this demand from the government, is going about like a bull in a china shop rather than applying its mind and standing up for what is inescapable for national security.

Several committees have looked into reorganising the Army, essentially to cut costs, reduce teeth-to-tail ratio, make the Army more efficient (lean and mean, a phrase often used) and improve the career prospects of the officer cadre. Still, there appears to be continuing pressure on the military to further decrease expenses. There is little realisation that in areas of national defence, as in life, some things do not come cheap.

However, the government (MoD) has been cherrypicking only those recommendations of various committees that conform to its thinking and plans. Thus, many of the more useful recommendations of the Ajai Vikram Singh Committee and more recently those of the Shekatkar Committee have been left out. Since most of the recommendations are interlinked, so when you do ‘cherrypicking’, it leads to disruptions and complications and the end result is often the opposite of what was intended.

The number of civilian employees paid out of the defence budget is around 3.75 lakh. These are from various groups such as the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), ordnance factories, Military Engineer Services (MES), defence PSUs. MoD, etc. Though they are around 25 per cent of the strength of the defence forces, in terms of pay, allowances and pensions, their take-home, in proportionate terms, is much higher.

This is due to non-functional financial upgradation (NFFU) granted to these civilian employees and the availability of far more vacancies for them in higher pay bands, compared to those in the defence forces. Further, their advancement in career to higher pay bands (due to NFFU) comes with far shorter service than that of defence forces officers. Thus, an officer in Class A service — most of them among these 3.75 lakh are in this class — climbs to the pay band of a joint secretary to the Government of India with 19 years of service, while a Major General, unfairly equated with a joint secretary, gets to that pay band after around 29 years of service.

This group of 3.75 lakh is the actual tail that needs drastic pruning and yet it has never been touched. In the defence forces, there are about 20 in the apex scale of pay, whereas among these civilians, with a far smaller cadre strength, the figure is well over 100.

Nearly 70 per cent of the Army’s budget is tailored towards revenue expenditure, leaving little money for other essential requirement of modernisation etc. A former Chairman, Chiefs of

Staff Committee, Admiral Arun Prakash (retd) highlighted this aspect in an article. What seems to be missed out is that revenue expenditure is 70 per cent because the budget itself is small (during 2019-20, it was about 1.46 per cent of the GDP). If the allocation for defence were to be 3 per cent of the GDP (as proposed by the Parliamentary Committee of Defence), this percentage would perhaps come down to 40 per cent or less of the defence budget.

A review of the officer cadre involves the ratio between regular and short service cadre and rank structure of various appointments within the service. In the past, the Ajai Vikram Singh Committee recommended a ratio of 1:1.1 between the regular and short service cadre. The more appropriate ration should be 60:40 (60 per cent regular and 40 per cent short service).

The authorised strength of the officer cadre of the Army is nearly 40,000. Presently, the shortage of officers is around 12,000; it has persisted all along and impacts the performance of units.

Presently, the short service commission officers serve up to 10 years, extendable to 14. Such length of service has drawbacks and problems of readjustment and re-employment in civil life. Equally, such terms and conditions of service just cannot attract good material.

On the proposed three years of service, the utility of officers employed for such a short period would be highly suspect. We will end up being flooded with officers of the Captain rank, released from the Army, who will be going around looking for odd jobs in the civil market, which will have its own impact on the military’s standing in civil society.

To draw on the right material that can meet the demands of exacting standards of performance in the defence services, the terms and conditions offered for short service commission have to be attractive enough.

Therefore, the duration of the short service should be five years with additional four months for training. Their academic qualification should be Class XII (science stream) or graduation. As regards their resettlement, a small percentage may be absorbed in regular commission and all others given assured admission and free technical education with stipend for the duration of their education. Some can be absorbed in CPOs and central civil services.

Those who wish to altogether opt out should be given an appropriate one-time financial grant. These officers could be given CSD canteen facilities.

Finally, from what has been appearing in the press, asking the military to accept second-grade weapons and equipment, reducing the strength of officers and men in units, and changing organisations of field formations throws up a dismal picture.

Possibly, we are moving closer to our state that prevailed before 1962. The military’s higher command owes it to the nation to keep the country safe and stand up for national security interests.

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 21

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said the manufacturing sector had been the worst-hit by the lockdown and the disruption in supply chains, and the defence sector was more aggravated than others as the only buyer of its products was the government.

Addressing a video conference on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) e-conclave, Singh said: “There are more than 8,000 MSMEs and partners of many organisations — ordnance factories, DPSUs and service organisations. They contribute more than 20 per cent of the total production of these organisations”.

The MoD, he said, had taken several steps for industries, especially MSMEs, such as extension of response dates of tenders and early clearance of pending payments. The definition of MSME has been revised for expansion. At the same time, there will be no distinction between manufacturing and services sector MSMEs.

In government contracts (procurements) of value Rs 200 crore or less, global tenders will not be allowed. This will help MSMEs to grow their business. In the event of being unable to participate in trade fairs due to Covid-19, e-market linkages will be ensured. The government and PSUs will also ensure the clearance of all outstanding payments in the next 45 days.

The Army hospital was thrown open for the policemen after a request was made to the Army Headquarters by the Delhi Police.

he Army’s Base Hospital in Delhi Cantonment has extended its medical facilities to Delhi Police after latter made a request for admitting Covid-19 positive cases in the force.

At present seven policemen are undergoing treatment at the Base Hospital. Senior Army officers informed The Indian Express that the Army hospital was thrown open for the policemen after a request was made to the Army Headquarters by the Delhi Police.

“There are adequate arrangements at the Base Hospital to combat Covid-19 and since Delhi Police asked for our help we have had no hesitation in taking in their personnel who have tested positive for coronavirus. Seven of them are currently under treatment”, said a senior Army officer.

On May 6, a Delhi Police constable died of coronavirus after he was allegedly turned away from two hospitals. There had been allegations that had he been given timely help, the constable, in his early 30s, would have survived.

It is learnt that following this incident the top brass of Delhi Police decided to enlist the help of the Army medical authorities in order to ensure that its personnel who are infected by the virus while discharging their duties are ensured best possible medical treatment.

The GOC-in-C Western Command, Lt Gen RP Singh, also visited the Base Hospital in Delhi earlier this week and took stock of the anti-Covid measures. He also inquired about the facilities, which are being provided to the police personnel and directed that all possible help must be provided to them.

The GOC-in-C also visited the Delhi Area headquarters and was briefed by Lt Gen VK Mishra, General Officer Commanding Delhi Area about the prevailing Covid-19 situation and assistance being provided to civil authorities including Delhi Police.

The Army Commander also visited the quarantine facilities set up by the Army at Cariappa Parade Ground in Delhi Cantonment.

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 19

A gunfight has raged between joint forces and militants in old Srinagar city, police said.

The gunfight broke out in the wee hours when joint teams of police and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation in Kanemazar Nawakadal locality of downtown Srinagar after an input about militant presence.

“The operation was launched at around 2 am and the contact with militants was established immediately when the suspected area was being cordoned,” a police officer said. “The operation is underway.”

A policeman has been injured in the ongoing operation.

The authorities have suspended low speed mobile internet and the voice calling service of all operators except for BSNL has also been snapped in Srinagar district.

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 21

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has upheld the acquittal of an Indian Army sepoy accused of raping the doctor wife of a lieutenant colonel. The prosecutrix had claimed that she was pregnant and had returned home from a visit to a hospital when the alleged incident occurred.

“Long silence regarding the alleged occurrence of prosecutrix and her husband, both of whom were well educated, creates doubt regarding the prosecution story,” the Bench of Justice Rajan Gupta and Justice Karamjit Singh observed.

The Bench also dismissed the prosecutrix’s application for grant of leave to appeal after terming it as “devoid of merit”. An FIR in the matter was registered for rape and criminal intimidation under Sections 376 and 506 of the IPC at Sujanpur police station in Pathankot against the sepoy. But Pathankot Additional Sessions Judge acquitted the accused after giving him the benefit of doubt in his judgment dated January 20, 2016.

In her complaint to the police lodged in February 2015, the prosecutrix had alleged that the incident had taken place in March 2014. She was pregnant and had gone to the hospital for medical check-up in her husband’s official vehicle driven by the accused. He followed her inside the house while carrying a bag of groceries before the incident occurred.

The Bench asserted the explanations put forth by the prosecution regarding delay in lodging the FIR did not appeal to the mind of the court.

The prosecutrix claimed she disclosed the alleged incident to her husband in January 2015. Even her husband stated the same. But the doctor treating her admitted that the husband of prosecutrix informed him about the incident in November 2014.

The Bench asserted it was not clear why the prosecutrix and her husband did not report the alleged incident dated March 4, 2014, to the police till February 2, 2015. The prosecutrix, while appearing in the witness box, admitted she kept accompanying the accused in the official vehicle to the hospital for her medical check-up during the next 15 days.

Anantnag/Srinagar, May 21

A policeman was killed and two other security personnel were injured in a militant attack in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district today.

Militants opened fire on a joint checkpoint set up by the police and the CRPF at Prichoo, Pulwama. “Two policemen and a CRPF jawan were injured in the incident. An injured policeman later succumbed to his injuries,” a senior police officer said.

The slain cop has been identified as Anoop Singh of 10 Battalion of the IRP.

Soon after the attack, security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to arrest the militants. This was the second attack on the forces in less than 24 hours in Kashmir. Two BSF men were killed in an ambush near Srinagar yesterday.

Meanwhile, a day after a picture of three gun-wielding youths went viral on social media, security forces arrested them in Kupwara district. The trio, the police said, had joined the Lashkar-e-Toiba.

SSP Ambarkar Shriram Dinkar said, “After their picture went viral, we started picking up their contacts. During a search operation, we nabbed the trio and recovered weapons from them.” — TNS

New Delhi: Chinese border defence troops have made the “necessary moves” and “enhanced control measures” at the Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh, the country’s state media has reported.

The Galwan Valley is the region where Chinese soldiers clashed with the Indian Army resulting in several injuries earlier this month.

The report by Global Times, said China’s border defence troops have taken necessary measures to strengthen an on-the-spot response and control of border areas, “resolutely safeguarding China’s sovereignty and security and maintaining peace and stability in border areas”.

The confirmation by China of increased tensions at the LAC comes amidst a move by India to downplay the incident.

“Temporary and short duration face-offs between border guarding troops do occur along the LAC due to the differing perceptions of the alignment of boundaries, which are not resolved,” Army chief Gen. M.M. Naravane had said in a statement last Thursday. “There were two incidents at Eastern Ladakh and North Sikkim where aggressive behaviour by both sides resulted in minor injuries to troops, post which both sides disengaged after dialogue and interaction at local level.” Gen. Naravane had also said that face-offs happen for a number of reasons, including when a new local commander moves in. He added that there was aggression by both sides.

ThePrint had reported on 10 May that even though “official disengagement” has happened, additional troops have been pressed in.

The Chinese have set up a number of tents on their side to cater to the additional troops.

Also read: Pakistan’s 40-yr-old Gilgit-Baltistan dam project could finally be a reality, with China help

India purposely instigated conflicts: Chinese media  

The Global Times report has blamed India for the incident on the evening of 5 May when Chinese troops attacked Indian soldiers near the Galwan river in Eastern Ladakh.

Chinese troops had objected to Indian presence there claiming it was their territory, which the Army had rejected.

Giving its version of events, the Global Times, citing sources, said that since early May, India has been crossing the boundary line in the Galwan Valley region and entering Chinese territory.

“The Indian side built defence fortifications and obstacles to disrupt Chinese border defense troops’ normal patrol activities, purposefully instigated conflicts and attempted to unilaterally change the current border control situation,” it said.

It added that the Galwan Valley region is Chinese territory, and the local border control situation was very clear.

“The actions by the Indian side have seriously violated China and India’s agreements on border issues, violated China’s territorial sovereignty and harmed military relations between the two countries,” it said.

The Indian Army has been reached for reaction on the Chinese media report and the copy will be updated as and when it comes.

Citing the same source, the Chinese report said the border troops of China and India will keep in touch with each other on the current situation through meetings and representations.

ThePrint had reported on 14 May that Indian and Chinese armies are working out the dates for the next formal discussions between “higher” military authorities in the Ladakh sector to sort out the tensions arising out of the face off.