Monthly Archives: August 2018

Flags country’s ‘abysmal’ human rights record

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 23

India has asked Pakistan to vacate Indian territories under its forcible occupation and take three-fold action to contain terrorism instead of raking up the Kashmir issue, countering caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar claims in his address at the General Debate during the high-level 78th session of UNGA on Friday.

“Pakistan has been the home and patron to the largest number of internationally proscribed terrorist entities and individuals in the world. Instead of engaging in technical sophistry, we call upon Pakistan to take credible and verifiable action against the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks, whose victims await justice even after 15 years,” said Indian diplomat Petal Gehlot.

India was exercising its Right of Reply in the UNGA after Kakar alleged India had evaded implementation of the UN Security Council’s resolutions which called for the “final disposition” of J&K to be decided by its people through UN-supervised plebiscite.

Gehlot said the UTs of J&K and Ladakh were integral parts of India and Pakistan had no “locus standi” to make statements regarding India’s domestic matters.

To Kakar’s claim that J&K was the key to peace in the region, she said: “In order for there to be peace in South Asia, the actions that Pakistan needs to take are threefold. First, stop cross-border terrorism and shut down its infrastructure of terrorism immediately. Second, vacate Indian territories under its illegal and forcible occupation. And third, stop the grave and persistent human rights violations against the minorities in Pakistan.”

Countering Kakar’s claim that India was denying access to human rights bodies, Gehlot said members of the UN and other multilateral organisations were well aware that Pakistan made such claims to “deflect the international community’s attention away from its own abysmal record on human rights”. Citing a “glaring example” of the systemic violence against Pakistan’s minorities, the First Secretary in India’s Permanent Mission to the UN referred to the large-scale “brutality” perpetrated against the minority Christian community in Faisalabad district in August, where around 20 churches were vandalised and 89 Christian homes burnt down.

BALINDER SINGH PUNJAB EXPRESS BUREAU Samana/Patiala, September 21 Punjab Chief Minis[1]ter Bhagwant Mann on Thursday handed over cheques worth Rs 1 crore each as financial assis[1]tance to the distressed family members of the two brave hearts who had attained martyrdom during search operation against militants at Anant[1]nag (Jammu-Kashmir), a few days back. After visiting the native houses of these martyrs at SAS Nagar and Samana, the Chief Minister said that these valiant heroes have attained martyrdom while discharging their duty to safeguard the uni[1]ty, integrity and sovereign[1]ty of the country. He said that the two valiant he[1]roes from Punjab, Colonel Manpreet Singh from SAS Nagar and Pardeep Singh of Samana Patiala had at[1]tained martyrdom during this operation. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is an irreparable loss for the country in general and for the distressed families in particular. During his visit, the Chief Minister offered his condolences to the bereaved family members and prayed to Almighty for granting eternal peace to the departed soul.

CM hands over cheques worth Rs 1 crore each as financial assistance to distressed families of two brave hearts martyred at Anantnag

Asserts that country will ever remain indebted to the unprecedented sacrifice of these heroes

Patiala, September 21, 2023:

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday handed over cheques worth Rs. 1 crore each as financial assistance to the distressed family members of the two brave hearts who had attained martyrdom during search operation against militants at Anantnag (Jammu-Kashmir), a few days back. 
After visiting the native houses of these martyrs at SAS Nagar and Samana, the Chief Minister said that these valiant heroes have attained martyrdom while discharging their duty to safeguard the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country. He said that the two valiant heroes from Punjab, Colonel Manpreet Singh from SAS Nagar and Pardeep Singh of Samana Patiala had attained martyrdom during this operation. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is an irreparable loss for the country in general and for the distressed families in particular.

During his visit, the Chief Minister offered his condolences to the bereaved family members and prayed to Almighty for granting eternal peace to the departed soul. Handing over cheques worth Rs 1 crore to the distressed families as a mark of respect for the unprecedented sacrifice made by these heroes for the country, he said that the entire country is indebted to these martyrs who had sacrificed their lives for the sake of the country and its people. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this humble initiative of the state government is in recognition of the immense contribution of these sons of soil towards preserving the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country.

Reiterating the firm commitment of the state government to help the families of the soldiers who sacrifice their life at the altar of the motherland, the Chief Minister said that it is the bounden duty of the Punjab government. Bhagwant Mann said that financial assistance to these families of martyrs is in consonance with the commitment of the state government to ensure the well being of the soldiers and their families who attained martyrdom during the duty. He said that the supreme sacrifice of these martyrs will ever inspire their fellow soldiers and youngsters to perform their duties with far more devotion and commitment.

1. Please refer to the Central Org ECHS letter No B/49711-NSC/AG/ECHS/Gen Corr dated 06 Jul 22. Copies of the letters are enclosed for information please.
2. Vide Para – 6 (b) of the above letter, Proof of Income Eligibility i.e. Form 26 AS or Income Certificate from State Revenue Department for the last 2 Financial Years in respect of the Dependents above 18 Years of Age are required to be submitted/ uploaded in the Portal to get the Extension Approved for 1 Year. Failing which, the ECHS Cards are Blocked.
3. Alert for Extension of Eligibility has started coming in the ECHS Portal under Status. Please login to ECHS Portal to check the same and Apply for the Extension if due.

https://echs.sourceinfosys.com/

Warm regards.

Lt Col RK Bhardwaj (Retd)

Rk Bhardwaj rkbhardwaj52@gmail.com Wed, 20 Sept, 2023 at 10:08 am
To: Dr Bhartendu Kumar Singh, IDAS Jt CGDA (Public Grievance Officer) bhartendu.singh@gov.in,
sparsharmyco.dad@gov.in, sparshmigration@googlegroups.com
Cc: andas.cgda@nic.in, maushumirudra.cgda@nic.in
Bcc: Shri Vijoy Kumar Singh IAS secyesw@nic.in, defsecy@nic.in
KIND ATTENTION – ALL THE JOINT CGDA (SPARSH)
Hon’ble Sirs/ Madams,

1. SPARSH has been introduced in the Indian Armed Forces for the Betterment and Welfare of the Ex-Servicemen
   Pensioners in payment of their Pensions.
2. Ex-Servicemen are Service Pensioners & Family Pensioners including Single Ladies. Their Age varies from 40 years
   to 100 years plus. Their Basic Education varies from Class 5 to Masters. All of them belong to different Areas and with
   different Regional Mother Tongues. All these areas are not having Satisfactory functional Internet Network. All the
   Pensioners are not Computer/ Smart phones SAVVY. Keeping in view the fraud, we can’t even visit the Cyber Cafe for
   these works.
3. It is beyond Anyone’s understanding, till now all the Details (Personal as well as Service), of the Pensioners were
   correctly held by PCDA Pensions. No problems were being faced either by Pensioners or by PCDA Pensions. How come
   so many mistakes have NOW occurred in Data of each of the Pensioners, while transferring it to SPARSH. It is
   surprising to Note that Most Important Data, like, Spouse LIVING have been shown NOT ALIVE and vice versa. NAMES
   OF SPOUSES BEEN SHOWN WRONG. In Spite of having Date of Birth of Spouses in the ePPOs, already held even with
   PCDA Pensions, Not been SHOWN Correctly OR Not Shown at all in the SPARSH Personal Data & in SPARSH PPOs.
4. Records of all the previous PPOs & Corr PPOs are held with PCDA Pensions in ePPOs. Why so many mistakes are
   found in SPARSH PPOs by most of the Pensioners, is not understood. It can only happen, due to the transfer of important
   data with lackadaisical attitude and hurriedness.
5. It seems No-one has thought of Rechecking the Data, in spite of having Financial affects, before launch of the
   System. Wrong Data have not only made the Pensioners suffer, but even Increased the Workload of PCDA Pensions,
   CGDA and Records Offices etc besides the Pensioners. Time taken is going to be in months & even in years in certain
   cases. It is still not late. The better option is to Correct the Data in SPARSH Portal by PCDA Pensions Staff only by
   tallying it with the Personal Files/ System of each of the Pensioners. It would not only be foolproof but would take less
   time.
6. It is very much appreciated that Problems are likely to occur during Initial Stages. We the Ex-Servicemen are there to
   help the System. But the SPARSH Environment has to be made User Friendly. There is the Need for Spreading General
   Awareness keeping in view Age, Education, IQ of the Pensioners. So that they are able to take on the problems in the
   right spirit and are able to come out of it at the earliest with your assistance. Actions/ Steps to be taken by the
   Pensioners for different types of problems being faced during login, can always be Posted in the SPARSH Portal &
   Website. That is, the Contact Details of those Persons/ Agencies to be Approached by Pensioners for different types of
   problems. But the same have Not been Circulated/ Posted anywhere. The Right place is SPARSH Portal and Website.
7. For example –
   (a). Non receipt of login id & password.
   (b). While login Demographic failure.
   (c). Non Submission of Declaration/ Ack.
   (d). Basic information Aadhaar, PAN, Mobile
   Not found Entered in Personal Details.
   (e). Difficulty in Update of Personal Details.

Upload of Documents (Asked for are un-
Warranted or Not Available).

(f). Non attendance of Service Request
Raised. Who are these agencies & can they be
Contacted to request for expedite & how ?
(g). Who is to be Contacted if Service Request
Not attended for days & months.
(h). If the Service Request Not Processed & is
Pending, another Service Request can’t be
Raised. It requires a relook. It is harassment.

(j). TDS not being Deducted. If deducted not
Seen in Form 26 AS, though shown in Form –

16. Thus making filing ITR Intime impossible.
    (k). NRIs living abroad Not permitted to login
    due to Geo-fencing. How does CGDA expect
    them to function ? Perforce NRIs are made to
    Use VPN. Aadhaar is not obligatory for them.
    But without Aadhaar they can’t login. Besides
    having difficulty in submission of Life Cert on
    line.
17. There are so many problems being faced by the Pensioners. We are willing to share the same with the CGDA. But
    kindly be practical and brief us in layman language, how to tackle i.e. whom to approach & how. In case of Delay in
    resolution, who is the Appellant authority ? We would Recommend, the Best solution is to Let the Data be Uploaded/
    Updated by PCDA Pensions SPARSH Prayagraj Staff for its accuracy & lesser time taken, to avoid increase in workload
    of other agencies e.g. Service HQs, Record Offices/ ORO & the Senior Citizens Pensioners.
18. Defence Secretary & Secretary ESW Only –
    Sir, We the Ex-Servicemen, have done our duty during Service for the Safety & Integrity of our Great Nation. We think,
    this is the least we Deserve and therefore Request your good office to make the last leg of our life Comfortable. May we
    Request that necessary Advise be given to CGDA to take Immediate actions in this regard and Instruct the PCDA
    Pensions SPARSH for Updating/ Uploading the Data by their Staff itself, instead of asking the Pensioners to Update.
    Once the Complete Data is available with them, why are they making the Life of Pensioners difficult besides making all
    other agencies like Service HQs, Records Offices/ ORO (MO 5 b) hardpressed, that is increasing their workload for
    Verification of Pensioners Data, which is already held with PCDA Pensions Prayagraj duly Verified.
19. We most humbly request the Concerned authorities to treat us like your Parents, Grandparents and Great grand
    parents. We are sure and look forward for Immediate response in this regard by making our last leg of our life easygoing,
    healthy & comfortable.
    Warm regards.
    Yours Sincerely,
    Lt Col RK Bhardwaj (Retd)
    Mobile – 9219603039

SPARSH FUNCTINING.Pdf

Lieutenant Colonel Avishek Sinha retired last month and was seen participating in a podcast on a social media platform the very next day, in uniform, defence sources said. 

New Delhi: A retired Lieutenant Colonel has been booked, on a complaint filed by the Army, for alleged misuse of uniform and social media directives, ThePrint has learnt.

Lieutenant Colonel Avishek Sinha retired last month (on 6 August) and was seen participating in a podcast on a social media platform the very next day, sources in the defence establishment said. 

According to the rules, retired officers are not allowed to wear their uniform. 

While the officer retired as a lieutenant colonel, he was seen wearing the uniform of a colonel (also called ‘full colonel’ colloquially), which is one rank higher, and he was thus not entitled to wear it even while in service, the sources said.

The FIR, the sources added, was lodged at the Ludhiana Police Station on 29 August, under IPC Section 140, which prohibits any individual who is not a soldier (also applicable for Air Force and Navy) from wearing the uniform of the Army (or equivalent services). 

The retired officer also violated the provisions under Paragraph 666 of Regulations for the Army, 2010 (revised edition), the sources said.

In May, the Army’s Additional Directorate of Discipline and Vigilance had issued a letter warning former soldiers with punitive action in case of any departure from norms that tarnishes the image of the forces. 

The advisory also called upon veterans to not misuse their uniform or accoutrements.

The Army had warned that this could result in the withholding or withdrawal of pension, besides possible registration of police cases.

On the issue of pension, the Army has cited the Regulations for the Army, 2008 (Part-I), Para 8, which states that “the competent authority may by an order in writing withhold or withdraw a pension or part thereof whether permanently or for a specified period, if the petitioner is convicted of a serious crime or is found guilty of grave misconduct”.

Furthermore, under Para 4 of the regulations, future good conduct is an implied condition for grant of pension allowance. Thus, the pension already granted can be withheld if the pensioner is found guilty by a competent authority of grave misconduct. 

In this regard, the competent authority is AG (adjutant general), the note stated.

A source in the defence establishment said the action of filing an FIR against the retired officer shows that the Army will take stern action against veterans misusing social media platforms.

(Edited by Sunanda Ranjan)

Also Read: Army warns veterans against posting ‘false narratives’ on social media, says pensions could be withheld

Tribune News Service

Vijay Mohan

Chandigarh, September 23

Upholding the discharge of 48 trainees for failing to qualify in academics, the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) has held that compromising overall standards of the defence forces just to meet an individual’s personal aspirations or merely as a welfare measure in not desirable.

The trainees, enrolled under the Artificer Apprentice scheme, had been discharged by the Indian Navy as being suitable after they could not qualify repeatedly in the examinations conducted during basic training.They had consequently moved the AFT seeking directions that they be allowed to continue in technical training or alternatively be granted the opportunity to switch over to a non-technical trade.

The Tribunal observed that the trainees had failed to qualify in the examination in two chances given to them under rules and had also been repeatedly counselled and given numerous opportunities to improve themselves and qualify the course.

“It is an admitted fact that the Navy is a combatant force and technical competence for handling sophisticated equipment is necessary for the security of the nation. It cannot afford to have probationers who cannot pass technical subjects during training,” the Tribunal’s bench comprising Justice Rajendra Menon and Lt Gen CP Mohanty ruled.

The Bench also clarified the status of a trainee in the Navy as a probationer and said if the individual fails to meet the organisational requirement during training, the authorities had every right to discharge him from service.

The Bench also observed that the trainees were enrolled as Artificer Apprentice based upon the availability of vacancies in that trade as per organisational manpower requirements. Since they failed to qualify for that trade, the change in trade as claimed by them also has to be dependent upon the similar necessity for filling vacancies.

“If there are no such vacancies in an alternate trade, providing disqualified applicants from one trade to another merely as a welfare measure would dilute operational readiness and efficiency of the defence forces as a whole,” the Bench said.

‘Five Eyes’ network is an intelligence alliance consisting of the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. It is both surveillance-based and signals intelligence

PTI

Toronto, September 23

Admitting for the first time, a top United States diplomat has confirmed that there was “shared intelligence among Five Eyes partners” that had prompted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s offensive allegation about Indian agents’ involvement in the killing of a Khalistani extremist on Canadian soil, according to a media report on Saturday.

There was “shared intelligence among Five Eyes partners” that informed Trudeau’s public allegation of a “potential” link between the Government of India and the murder of a Canadian citizen, CTV News Channel, Canada’s 24-hour all-news network, reported quoting the US Ambassador to Canada David Cohen.

‘Five Eyes’ network is an intelligence alliance consisting of the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. It is both surveillance-based and signals intelligence.

The CTV’s report is based on its exclusive interview on CTV’s programme ‘Question Period with Vassy Kapelos’ that is to air on Sunday.

CTV quoted Cohen as saying that he confirmed: “There was shared intelligence among Five Eyes partners that helped lead Canada to make the statements that the Prime Minister made.” 

Col DS Cheema (Retd)

IN 1976, I was posted at Jodhpur as a Company Commander in the rank of a Major. When I arrived on the battalion premises, I learnt that the Commanding Officer (CO) was highly unpopular among the officers, including the 2IC (second-in-command), also a Major, and four company commanders because of his theoretical and undoable instructions that he would pick up from books and the pamphlets issued by our training establishment, the Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering (MCEME). He had recently undergone the all-important Senior Officers’ course and believed that the words contained in the study material were the gospel truth that must be followed religiously. Incidentally, I was an instructor and the director for the same course for 10-odd years; during the later years, I understood well how wrong the CO was.

It so happened that the CO was appointed an umpire for an important Army exercise near the border with Pakistan; the 2IC was on leave and I, the next seniormost officer, was to officiate as the CO during the absence of the incumbent. Hours before he was to leave early next day, the CO briefed me about what all had to be done during his seven-day absence. I assured him that everything would be done exactly according to his instructions. One point that he had emphasised was punctuality — he wanted me to be in the office before 8 am to set an example for the officers, JCOs and men.

Next day, as the officiating CO, I exercised my discretion and reached the office at 8:40 am. As I was getting down the jeep, the CO’s stick orderly came running to inform me that the sahib was looking for me and wanted me to report to him immediately. I was left shell-shocked and my morale came crashing down. When I saluted him in the office, all hell broke loose and the dressing-down that I received sends shivers down my spine even today. Enquiries from various sources revealed that the GOC, whom the CO was to accompany, had changed his plans because of an urgent operational commitment.

In 1990, the same officer, a Lt Col who couldn’t get the next rank, was posted to the MCEME, where I as a Colonel was the Dean of Faculty of Industrial Engineering. As luck would have it, he had to report to me, even though I had requested the Deputy Commandant to avert this for obvious reasons. We worked together amicably for more than a year before he retired to settle in Ludhiana. I must confess that off and on, I would feel the temptation to get back at him. However, my wife helped me make peace with the unexpected turn of events.

He did have a good effect on me — since that fateful day in 1976, I have never been late for any event and have been trying my best not to breach the trust reposed by others in me.