Chandigarh, February 23

Granting financial relief to pensioners holding the rank of Honorary Naib Subedar in the Army, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has issued orders granting parity to pre-2006 and post-2006 retirees with effect from January 1, 2006, thereby finally implementing a decision passed by the Chandigarh Bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal in November 2017.

AFT Bench comprising Justice MS Chauhan and Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra had directed the Central Government to re-fix their pension in line with earlier decisions of the tribunal as upheld by the High Court and the Supreme Court.

While implementing recommendations of 6th Pay Commission, the MoD, in 2009, issued directions to notionally grant pension of the rank of Naib Subedar to Havildars promoted as Honorary Naib Subedars. However, on the insistence of the defence accounts department, the benefit was extended only to post-2006 retirees. That resulted in an anomaly wherein pre-2006 Honorary Naib Subedars continued to be paid the pension based on the scale of Havildar. The cut-off date was struck down by the tribunal and the judgment was upheld by the Supreme Court. The Karnataka High Court had also passed similar orders.

In 2010 and 2013, when military pensions were enhanced, the ministry again refused to grant enhancement to pre-2006 Honorary Naib Subedars. Quashing the discrimination, the tribunal ordered the enhancement of pension of pre-2006 retired Honorary Naib Subedars also. — TNS