Civilian officers say Ministry of Defence orders on reforms not being obeyed

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 14

Controversy and cadre rift is dogging the Military Engineer Service (MES) with a large number of the civilian cadre Indian Defence Service of Engineers (IDSE) officers writing to the Defence Ministry expressing “loss of confidence” in the administration of the organisation.One of the largest construction and maintenance agencies in India, MES is headed by a Lieutenant General at Army Headquarters.Alleging non-implementation of reforms and reorganisation that were recommended by a high-level committee and subsequently ordered by the Ministry of Defence, IDSE officers have sought a separate head of the MES, who is accountable only to the MoD.A senior member of the Delhi-based IDSE Association confirmed that individual letters written by officers, including those at the level of Chief Engineer, were sent to the Defence Minister, Defence Secretary, Army Chief, Army Commanders and Director General (Personnel) a few days ago.The MES, part of the Corps of Engineers, has an annual budget of about Rs 13,000 crore and is responsible for creating the strategic and the operational civil infrastructure and accommodation. Its officer cadre consists of about 1,200 Sapper officers drawn from the Army, 1,100 IDSE officers holding engineering degrees and another civilian cadre of surveyors and architects.Averring that the widening rift between the military and civilian personnel had now “reached a point of no return,” one such letter stated that non-implementation of the VS Jafa Committee report, on which orders were issued by the MoD last year, and not raising three Additional Director General formations created under the orders of the Defence Minister were examples of defiance of the ministry’s orders.Some serving sapper officers have, on the other hand, contended that some of the recommendations of the JAFA panel have been implemented over a period of time while some are either no longer relevant or are not warranted for operational reasons.

On warpath

• Civilian cadre officers have alleged loss of confidence in the administration of the organisation
• They have alleged non-implementation of reforms suggested by a high-level panel as well as MoD
• They have also sought a separate head of the MES, who is accountable only to the Defence Ministry