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New Delhi, November 7

A number of abnormalities or ailments which earlier rendered people unfit to gain entry into the Air Force or fly aircraft are soon set to go.With no scientific evidence to back notions such as spinal deformities affect flying, the Air Force will soon modify its medical norms for pilots and new applicants declared unfit due to this reason.Also, with new medical technologies and better drugs available for treatment, several ailments such as asthma, diabetes, coronary heart diseases and hypertension may also go off the list. The Medical Board of the Air Force has also removed 19 drugs like anti-diabetics off the list, which were earlier considered as a “taboo” for flying.“After going through several national and international literature and various research we have done in our Institute of Aerospace Medicine, we are trying to get some of the pilots, who are declared unfit for flying…We are looking into those issues and taking out a new order for commissioning, selection and flying purposes and they will be declared fit (for flying),” Air Marshal Pawan Kapoor, Director General Medical Services (Air), said referring to spinal deformities. “There are 10-12 ailments which have already been taken off. Rest are in the pipeline and decision is likely in 7-10 days,” he said. He said while medical approval has been taken, an administrative approval is awaited and the process will be done without compromising with flight safety.Kapoor was speaking on the sidelines of 64th International Congress of Aviation and Space Medicine here, attended by experts across the world from the field of aerospace medicine from both civil and military aviation.The IAF had formed a panel comprising spinal surgeons, neurosurgeons, physicians, radiologists and it was concluded that there is no evidence to show spinal deformities can affect flight safety and physical capability and conditioning of the pilots. — PTI

Hyderabad (Telangana) [India]: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Saturday reiterated that his government is committed to the welfare of the retired army personnel and added that his government has taken several measures for the welfare of the military personnel and some more are in the offing.

The Chief Minister held a high-level review meeting on the welfare of the retired military personnel at Pragathi Bhavan here.

During the meeting the Chief Minister decided to implement double pension scheme for the retired military personnel.

The double pension benefit will also be given to the spouse incase of death of the army pensioner. This pension will also be paid along with pensions of other employees every month.

He has also decided to extend benefits given to the army personnel martyred while serving to those lost their lives due to ill health and accidents too.

He has instructed the officials not to show any discrimination in this regard and said that retired army personnel working as Special Police Officers will be paid salaries along with other employees every month.

Rao said there is a need to strengthen the Army Welfare Boards. There are only 10 Sainik Welfare Boards in the districts, which will be extended to all the newly formed districts in the State.

He said steps will be taken to set up two Army Welfare Offices in Medak and Adilabad districts.

The compensation money given for those getting the gallantry awards would be more in the Telangana State compared to other states.

He also said that reservation should be given to the children of serving and retired army personnel in the Government residential Schools.

“The State government should accord recognition to the schools run by the army. Students joining NCC, Scouts and Guides should be encouraged and those pursing courses in National Defence Academy from the State should be given fellowships,” Rao said.

Since the Centre has agreed to set up an Army School in Warangal, Rao said, a Memorandum of Understadning in this regard will be signed as early as possible.

He also waived off vehicle tax for the the army personnel and will be exempted from paying tax in the state.

Meanwhile, the retired army personnel representatives have thanked the Chief Minister for enhancing the pension of war widows, giving two per cent reservation while allotting the two bed room houses, thereby exempting the military personnel from paying tax on their property.

Ministers Naini Narasimha Reddy, State Government’s Principal Advisor Rajeev Sharma, MPs Capt. Laxmikanth Rao, Vinod Kumar, Principal Secretaries Rajiv Trivedi and S Narsing Rao, Home Secretary Ms Anitha Rajendra, Southern India Army Commandant General Maj Gen S Pachauri, Secunderabad Station Brigadier Ajay Singh Negi, Colonel Tarun Kumar, Colonel Atul Rajput, Lieutenant General Jaswinder Singh, Captain Navneeth Singh, Army Welfare Committee Members Sri Suresh Reddy, Jagan Reddy, Pochaiah, Prabhakar Reddy, Manohar Reddy and others participated in the meeting.

Border residents moving to a safer place at Kunthal village in Kathua district. Tribune photo

Sanjay Pathak

Kathua, October 21

Continuous shelling on border Bobiya and Pati villages on the Zero Line along the international border in the Hiranagar sector has triggered migration of locals.The shelling started around 9.35 am today and has been going on intermittently, reports said.Official sources said the district administration had launched an operation for the safety and rescue of the border residents. Due to the intermittent firing and shelling, the administration has decided to fully vacate Bobiya and Pati villages which fall in the firing range.“The administration has sent its bullet-proof vehicle to Bobiya and Pati villages and shifted residents of the villages to a temple at Kunthal village in Hiranagar and Higher Secondary School, Hiranagar,” a source said.Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, Romesh Kumar and MLA, Hiranagar, Kuldeep Kumar along with civil and police officers visited Bobiya village today to assess the situation.“We are fed up with repeated migration and suffering. India should take a one-time hard step to end our miseries,” said Surjeet Singh, a resident of Bobiya, who has taken shelter at the migrant camp in Kunthal village.“Just after 20 days, we have again been forced to migrate from our homes,” he added.Rani Devi, another Bobiya resident, said: “Due to the migration, our children are suffering. Their studies have been badly affected and their future seems bleak.”Meanwhile, the Kathua Deputy Commissioner and the Hiranagar MLA held a meeting with the villagers and promised them all help.

Security personnel keep vigil during Army Chief Dalbir Singh Suhag’s visit to the Army camp in Nagrota on Wednesday. Tribune Photo: Inderjeet Singh

Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 30

Tuesday’s terror attack at Nagrota, which claimed lives of seven Army men, including two Majors, has once again brought back memories of devastating terror attack of May 14, 2002, at the cantonment town of Kaluchak on the Jammu-Pathankot national highway. The worst-ever terror strike in J&K had left over 35 soldiers, their wives and children dead.Fourteen years after the incident, terrorists managed to reach near the family quarters at Nagrota. Their aim was to repeat another Kaluchak by targeting family members of the soldiers but they could not.Fortunately, it was bravery and presence of mind of the wives of two Army officers that terrorists’ nefarious design to repeat Kaluchak at Nagrota was frustrated.“The brutality of terrorists, which we witnessed on May 14, 2002, was revived after Tuesday’s incident at Nagrota,” said Ravinder Singh, who runs a shop near Kaluchak.Even after passing of 14 years, signs of terror’s cruelty have still not been erased from the block of family quarters which the terrorists had managed to enter after storming the Army formation. “The block, which witnessed bloodshed and destruction 14 years back, still wears a deserted look,” Brij Nath, a local of Kaluchak said while recounting how three terrorists, who were dressed in Army uniforms, had lobbed grenades and fired on the soldiers, their family members, including small kids.Sources in the intelligence agencies said the initial investigation had established that the terrorists, who attacked the Army formation at Nagrota, had conducted a thorough recce before executing their plan. “It appears that terrorists were well aware about the location of the family quarters which was their target,” the sources said.As reported earlier, soon after the terrorists entered the Army unit located at Nagrota they were desperate to enter the family quarters where they could take the families of the soldiers and officers hostage.However, due to the bravery of two women, who were staying in the family quarters along with their newborns, the nefarious designs of the terrorists were frustrated.The wives of the two Army officers displayed exemplary courage as they blocked the entry of their quarters with all household items, making it difficult for the terrorists to break into the houses.

Fidayeen aimed for families

• The terror strike in Nagrota brought back memories of devastating terror attack of May 14, 2002, at the cantonment town of Kaluchak on the Jammu-Pathankot national highway which left over 35 soldiers, their wives and children dead.
• On Tuesday, the three fidayeen terrorists managed to reach near the family quarters at Nagrota and their aim was to repeat another Kaluchak by targeting family members of the soldiers.
• Fortunately, the presence of mind of the wives of two Army officers nixed the nefarious designs of the terrorists.

Recently by a judgement of one of the bench of Armed Forces Tribunal a THREE STAR ranked officer was demoted to ONE STAR rank.

It would be pertinent to view this decision of AFT in the context that for promotion to the TWO/THREE STAR rank, the promotion board is normally headed by the respective Service Chief. Other members of the board are the GOC-in-Cs/FOC-in-Cs/AOC-in-Cs, PSOs at respective Service HQs and a specialist THREE STAR ranked officer. Composition of the promotion boards may vary only marginally in terms of members in each Service. Needless to emphasize that promotability of every TWO/THREE STAR ranked officer is APPROVED by the SENIOR MOST HIERARCHY of that particular Service. Therefore any reversal of decision taken by the promotion boards comprising of the entire hierarchy of each service by Armed Forces Tribunal effectively states that ALL MEMBERS INCLUDING SERVICE CHIEF of that particular Service were/are incompetent/dishonest/biased/lack integrity and many other negative personal  traits, both individually and collectively. It does not stop here. Promotion of TWO/THREE star officers is approved by Min of Defence ( Raksha Mantri and Defence Secretary are invariably in the loop in case of Three Star definitely).

Ironic it would appear that AFT benches comprising of retired Judge and a retired THREE STAR (normally)  (total 2 individuals) have been entrusted with demonical powers of  setting aside a considered opinion of nearly a dozen (may be more) senior most appointments of each service, thus  unequivocally calling the entire military hierarchy dishonest, lacking in integrity, incompetent and much more in the name of DISHING out justice.

Was the ARMED FORCES TRIBUNAL created for such incongruent conduct, behaviour and question the entire hierarchy of a particular Service by appearing to be SUPER JUDGES next only to the almighty GOD?

If the judgement of the AFT in above case is assumed to be rational, the entire promotion board ought to be dismissed from the Service for demonstrated professional profligacy, dishonesty and total lack of integrity.

Both decisions viz clearance for promotion by the two successive promotion boards       (Brigadier to Major General and Major General to Lt General) and reversal by the AFT can obviously not co-exist. Or can it? As is the case in this instance.

Even if we were to believe that the decision of AFT was the ‘RIGHT’ decision based on factual evidence, but the insanity of AFT’s decision stems from the fact that in reversing the decision the AFT members have deliberately and knowingly (not unwittingly) attempted to destroy the institution of military. No individual, irrespective of his/her status, can ever be bigger than the institution.

There cannot be better instance of ‘SELF-GOAL’ than the military leadership’s desire to establish the ARMED FORCES TRIBUNAL. Incidentally it was not forced on the military by a ‘BABU’ or a politician. We simply wanted to behave like a COPY-CAT by having AFT because ‘BABUS’ had the CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL(CAT). Incidentally CAT came into existence after a constitutional amendment vide article 323A.

Armed Forces Tribunal, which came into existence in 2007 has done nothing extra-ordinary to cover itself with glory in nearly a decade of its existence. Indeed it has provided an opening to the dozen odd THREE STAR ranked officers another five years of leisure at government expense.

There is absolutely nothing that could not be resolved within the laid down rules of each Service. Establishment of AFT has resulted in more indiscipline and false belief amongst service personnel that each and every decision of service HQs can be challenged. Is this state of affairs acceptable and more importantly does it augur well for the military in the long run?

Reversal of Service HQs decision on matters of promotion/postings etc by the AFT cannot, should not and must not be compared to reversal of lower court decision by higher court. In judicial hearing/decision making there is normally a single judge (except in case of benches at high/supreme court). In case of military the promotion board comprises of dozen odd senior most appointments of the military. To question their collective wisdom/decision by a single judge, who is largely unaware of matters military, is nothing short of judicial fratricide.

A word about members of AFT bench must be placed for an inquisitive reader and follower of the laws of the land/institutions. Each of the THIRTEEN AFT bench comprises of a retired Judge and a THREE STAR (normally) ranked officer as ‘nothing more’ than an Administrative Member.

The Judges of this great nation (from lower to supreme court) are protected by one of the most DRACONIAN ACT called Judicial Officers Protection Act (JOPA), which enables them to reverse the judgment (for reasons best known only to themselves) of a lower court/of a smaller bench without any accountability to anyone whatsoever, based on the same evidence, which had resulted in conviction/acquittal and vice-versa, notwithstanding ‘crocodile tears’ shed on account of non-appointment of judges to higher courts. Indian judiciary is one of the worst ‘self-serving’ organization of this country, which insists on selecting its ‘own people’. No other democracy in the world follows the collegium system as is in vogue in our great nation. The ‘self-righteous’ approach of Indian Judiciary is evident from their knee-jerk reaction towards establishing a National Judicial Commission.

Military opted to do a ‘self-goal’ by seeking and accepting appointment of a civil judge in Armed Forces Tribunal. No civilian judge, irrespective of his/her exposure/experience can comprehend military needs.

Perhaps it may not be too late to disband this monolith, which threatens to destroy and tear the  still largely unscathed disciplined fabric of Indian Military. In making this recommendation I am willing to take the wrath of the ‘dirty dozen’ THREE STARS, who will have no further employment after having retired at 60. Do not worry about the judges. They will find some opening, be it heading a consumer court or  become member/head of numerous judicial commissions forever alive in our great nation.

As I write this piece, let me assure the ‘nay-sayers’ and ‘silencers’ that this incident alone has not forced me to recommend dissolution of AFT. My interest in this domain is self-explanatory, since I wrote about MAT more than a decade back. I have closely monitored the AFT decisions (without claiming to be a ‘know-all). AFT was established to ensure that while individual grievances were redessed on priority but at the same time institutional standing was not compromised. In the instant case, irrespective of genuineness of the AFT decision, the institution of Military has been abused publicly. Perhaps saner action would have been to approach the current Army Chief, apprised him about the impending AFT decision and requested him to advise the officer (who was demoted) to put in for premature release. In this action a vacancy of Lt Gen would have been created and hopefully the ‘wronged’ officer promoted, if he was still in service. Most importantly ‘DIRTY-LINEN’ would not have been washed in public domain. Statistics, if viewed pragmatically, give clear evidence of efficacy or otherwise of the supposed more efficient mechanisms introduced for betterment of organisation as well as individuals. A mere look would indicate that after AFT came into being number of cases filed by military persons on absolutely frivolous issues may have risen considerably ( as told to me in off the record conversation by a three star, who held the post of AG at Army HQ that number of cases have trebled- authenticity not guaranteed). Thus it is evident that the moment a superior gives unfavourable decision, the individual runs to challenge the decision in AFT because it is more accessible than civil courts. Needless to add that constitution of AFT has actually caused to create more indiscipline in the rank and file of officers and men. It is for this reason it is recommended that AFT should be disbanded as soon as practicable because it has failed to meet organisational aspirations. Individual aspirations, always and everytime, are subservient to organisational needs.

Indeed the grievances of a military personnel must be addressed. In order to meet this very pressing need, I had recommended establishing a MILITARY ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL (MAT) in 2004. Article was sent to each Service Chief and Raksha Mantri. Only one Service HQ acknowledged receipt saying that MAT is not required on the lines proposed since AFT was already in pipeline. Entire text of my proposal for establishing MAT is attached below.

Gp Capt TP Srivastava

02 November, 2016

9818926254

After India’s surgical strikes on terror cells across the border in September, militants attacked the Nagrota Army base in November, raising disturbing questions on the ability of security agencies to second guess terror. Perhaps it is time New Delhi took a closer look at new age tools developed by researchers to fight terro.

Security agencies across the world employ more than 40 math models to stay a step ahead of terrorists. Jonathan Farley, professor at the University of the West Indies, uses the lattice theory — a branch of mathematics that deals with ordered sets — to ascertain the probability of how many members need to be ‘taken out’ before a terrorist cell can be disrupted. This, in turn, helps to determine the structure of an ‘ideal’ terrorist cell which is most resistant to the loss of its members. Mathematicians Stephen Trench and Hannah Fry of the University College, London base their model on the Hawkes process (used in earthquake prediction programmes): It assumes that terror strikes occur in clusters and an attack is likely to be followed soon after by others — like after-shocks following an earthquake.

Neil Johnson of Miami University and his team mix maths and social media to predict terrorist attacks. Their algorithm detects signs of imminent terror strikes by monitoring social media posts used by radical groups. Prof. Johnson says social media serves as a recruitment platform for extremists and even seemingly innocuous online conversations on extremist topics could portend violent terrorist acts.

By studying pro-ISIS posts , for instance, he found strong linkages between terrorist-inspired posts and the likelihood of terror attacks happening. In fact, he says, it’s possible to see people “materialising” around certain social groups to share information in real-time, just like “crystals form in a test-tube”. This technology could help security agencies track sympathisers who get together at random before becoming terrorists themselves. Thus online ‘lone wolf’ actors act on their own only for short periods of time. After a while, a “coalescence process” begins in the online activity of such individuals and they become identifiable with different groups, or “aggregates”. Prof. Johnson calls this the “ecology of aggregates,” which allows his algorithm to track the trajectories of individuals through it.

But of especial interest to India would be the Temporal-Probabilistic Rule System developed by Venkatramana Subrahmanian, University of Maryland, which not only predicts terror attacks but also suggests counter strategies. The programme is based on the Stochastic Opponent Modeling Agents (SOMA) and the multiplayer game theory models. Both are built on data reflecting hundreds of variables relevant to terror groups in South Asia like the LeT, JeM, and SIMI.

SOMA identifies environment conditions favourable for the group’s actions and predicts the probability ‘P’ that it will carry out action ‘A’ with intensity ‘I’, when some condition is true in the environment. The multiplayer game theory correlates sets of actions that each player can perform and assigns a “payoff” for each combination of actions that a group can take.

This yields something called a ‘payoff matrix,’ showing all possible combinations of actions, and the payoffs for each scenario. In the LeT game theory, these actions include covert action or coercive diplomacy that policy makers could use. So in a hypothetical situation with five players (LeT, Pak military, Pak civilian government, US, and India), for each combination of actions these players could take, the model evaluates how good or bad that scenario could be for them.

Prof. Subrahmanian’s programme derives from Nash equilibria and calculates both ‘pure’ equilibria— where each player may or may not take an action, and ‘mixed’ equilibria—where each player can take probabilistic combinations of action. We found that of all the Nash equilibria in which LeT behaves well (i.e., does not carry out attacks),” says Prof. Subrahmanian, “the US and India both use covert action against LeT and/or coercive diplomacy with respect to Pakistan, and there is no additional military/development aid to Pakistan.”

During World War II, the United States Navy neutralised Germany’s U-boat threat by asking chess grandmaster Reuben Fine to analyse the probability of U-boats surfacing at certain points in the sea.

And Britain recruited several chess masters to devise a mathematical model to crack the German Enigma code, which virtually won the war for the Allies.

More than six decades later, the free world is again turning to mathematical models and the science of probability to help fight a new enemy: Terrorism.

NEW DELHI: Top military officers nearing retirement are abusing disability benefits to extract higher and tax-free pension, HT has learnt. The revelations come at a time when the government is under fire over “sharp cuts” in benefits for disabled soldiers.

The military’s medical services wing warned the government two years ago about an “alarming trend” of absolutely fit generals, admirals and air marshals exploiting the welfare measure by getting themselves placed in the lower medical category.

A medical downgrade entitles a soldier to better retirement benefits. “I would like to apprise you of an alarming trend evolving in the services, with regards to claims for disability pension being preferred by senior officers of the rank of lieutenant general and major general and their equivalent,” Lt Gen BK Chopra said in a letter to the defence secretary. He was then heading the armed forces medical services.

These senior officers, who have stayed in Shape-1 medical category throughout their career, suddenly present (themselves) with diseases… at the fag end of their service,” said the communication dated December 16, 2014. HT has a copy of the letter.

The ministry was aware of the problem and attempts were being made to make the system more rigorous, a defence ministry official said on Monday.

Chopra’s letter reveals how military doctors are under pressure from top officers to write their medical reports. “Specialists and medical officers working in hospitals under their command find themselves constrained to oblige these officers,” the letter said.

Sources said the claims for disability pensions have shot up significantly during the last 10 years following the implementation of the sixth pay commission report in 2006 that enhanced benefits.

Chopra, who retired in June 2016, told HT that he pursued the matter for one and half years after writing the letter and the details that emerged were shocking.

“A detailed scrutiny of records showed that before 2006 hardly any top officers claimed disability pension. But by 2015, about 21% of them were claiming benefits. If someone has disability, they should declare it earlier in service and not a few months before retirement,” Chopra said.

Last week, defence minister Manohar Parrikar referred the issue of calculating disability pension for soldiers to the anomalies committee of the seventh pay commission, amid a controversy over defence personnel drawing lower benefits compared to their civilian counterparts. Chopra’s letter said, “I would like to reiterate that disability pensions have become an easy & attractive source of tax-free supplementary income rather than the lifeline to wounded veterans.” It said the officers were eyeing lower medical category mostly with diseases such as osteoarthritis, spondylosis, diabetes and hypertension.

Apart from disability pension, senior officers also seem to be milking another medical provision, the letter pointed out. It said top officers who retired in Shape-1 were submitting “post discharge claims” for disabilities “they claim to have contracted while in service”. The provision was being misused by few veteran officers who claimed disability benefits for diseases such as corns in their feet, eczema, a skin disorder, and hearing loss, the letter said.

In the past, officers took pride in leaving service in top shape but the trend was on the decline, an army officer said.

 From: Colonelrajan Srinivas <colonelrajan44@gmail.com>
Date: 1 November 2016 at 11:14
Subject: Recommencement of Relay Fast for Justice (RFFJ) at Jantar Mantar wholly un-necessary
To: Maj Gen Satbir Singh SM <satbirsm@yahoo.com>, Maj Gen Satbir Singh <satbirsm@gmail.com>, 

Respected Veteran Gen Satbir Singh,

Jai Hind.

1.       It is indeed sad to hear that you have decided to re-commence ‘Relay Fast for Justice’ (RFFJ) at Jantar Mantar on 1 Nov 2016, for grant of OROP.

2.       I feel sad because I am unable to fathom as to how come you are so naïve not to know that re-commemncement of RFFJ at Jantar Mantar is wholly un-necessary on account of the following:

(a)        Having filed a case in the Hon’ble Supreme Court with regard to OROP, the matter is sub judice (under judicial consideration and therefore prohibited from public discussion elsewhere); and, that one must not do anything that can even remotely be construed as exerting pressure on the Hon’ble Supreme Court; thus inviting a rap by way of Contempt of Court.

(b)        Justice L Narasimha Reddy, Chairman One Man Judicial Committee, instituted by the Govt to look into anomalies in the grant of OROP has submitted its report only couple of days ago, ie. on 26 Oct 2016; and, it would be reasonable to assume that the Govt would take a min of three months to process and act on the recommendations of the Report.

3.   It is sad to hear from two Veterans of the rank of Maj Gen, both Founder Members and Members of the present Governing Body, duly elected during the last AGM in Nov 2014, that you do not listen to them or to their advice; and that, you bulldoze your way and take unilateral decisions in the GB Meetings, based on majority vote, given that the GB as it exists to day is packed with your camp followers.

4.    I wish, good sense prevails on you to listen to your colleagues, who have been with you through thick & thin.

 Regards,

Col Rajan

Bangalore, 9449043770

Lt-Gen Ashwani Kumar, General Officer Commanding, Chetak Corps, during a wreath laying ceremony at Yodha Yaadgar War Memorial in Bathinda on Friday. A Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 16

Chetak Corps commemorated the 45th anniversary of Vijay Diwas at the Bathinda Military Station.The commemoration began with a wreath laying ceremony at Yodha Yaadgar War Memorial by Lt-Gen Ashwani Kumar, General Officer Commanding, Chetak Corps and other serving personnel in remembrance of soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation.Tributes were paid to soldiers who took part in the 1971 war and brought glory to the country.Vijay Diwas (victory day) is celebrated every year on December 16 to mark India’s victory in the Indo-Pak war of 1971.The war ended after the Eastern Command of the Pakistani army signed the Instrument of Surrender in Dhaka, marking the liberation of Bangladesh.