Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 8

Six months after the Ministry of Defence decided on promotions, status and functioning of its civilian officers, the matter has raised its head again as armed forces have conveyed their displeasure about a “fresh attempt” to create “false equivalence” between military officers and civilians, saying the latter are support staff.Top sources have confirmed that the matter is in the notice of Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.The civilian officers are under the Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Services (AFHQ-CS). Their cadre — some 3,000 strong now — was created in 1968 as a support cadre comprising direct recruits at lower administrative level to the MoD. They are not from the IAS or allied services.On January 4 this year, the MoD, after instructions from Sitharaman, issued a letter saying the “cadre restructuring (re-jig of posts) of the AFHQ, as approved by the Union Cabinet, would be implemented. Designations will be created in consultation with the armed forces. Local designations assigned to armed forces and civilian officers stood withdrawn”.Sources said additional higher posts of AFHQ cadre — who are supposed to only support in administrative work — are another attempt at “false equivalence” with the military.The armed forces have questioned the creation of so many additional ranks at the senior levels — seven Principal Director (deemed equal to Brigadier) and 36 Directors (deemed just below Colonel).The Army’s note on the subject has termed the new posts “without any functional requirement given by user (Army)”. Already 89 posts are surplus, says the Army note.Sources said it has been conveyed if AFHQ cadre has to be given a status, it has to be as per the warrant of precedence issued by the Home Ministry.Displeasure conveyed 

• Around six months ago the MoD decided on promotions, status and functioning of its civilian officers
• The armed forces have conveyed displeasure over a “fresh attempt” to create “false equivalence” between military officers and civilians, saying the latter are support staff