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Capt, 3 jawans killed in Rajouri LoC firing Missiles fired by Pak; soldier injured in Poonch too

February 5, 2018 webadmin Leave a comment

Capt, 3 jawans killed in Rajouri LoC firing

Capt, 3 jawans killed in Rajouri LoC firing
Pakistan also shelled Shahpur sector of Poonch district. — Photo for representation
Amir Karim Tantray

Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 4

An Army Captain and three soldiers were today killed in heavy shelling by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, forcing the Indian troops to retaliate.
The slain soldiers were identified as Captain Kapil Kundu (22) from Ransika village in Pataudi (Gurugram); Rifleman Ramavatar (27) from Baraka village in Gwalior (MP); Rifleman Subham Singh (23) from Mukandpur Choudharian village in Kathua (J&K); and Havildar Roshan Lal (42) of Ghagwal in Samba (J&K).
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Pakistani troops initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of missiles, mortars, automatic weapons and small arms along the LoC in Bhimbher Gali sector of Rajouri district around 3.30 pm, an Army statement said.
“Indian Army retaliated strongly and effectively and heavy damage has been inflicted on Pakistani army posts,” a Defence PRO said.
“However, in the exchange of fire, one officer and three jawans were grievously injured and succumbed to their injuries and attained martyrdom,” he added.
This is for the first time that missiles have been used this year by Pakistani army to target Indian Army posts.
Earlier in the day, a jawan and two teenagers were injured in Shahpur sector of Poonch district in shelling from across the border, which started this morning. The injured civilians were identified as Shahnaz Bano (15) and Yasin Arif (14), residents of Islamabad village. They have been hospitalised.
Since January 13, five soldiers have died in LoC firing.
On January 13 and 19, Lance Naik Yogesh Muralidhar Bhadane and Lance Naik Sam Abraham were killed in Sunderbani sector. Sepoy Mandeep Singh was killed in KG sector of Poonch. Signalman Chandan Kumar Rai, injured in Mendhar sector, succumbed to his injuries on January 20. Naik Jagdish Kumar, who sustained injuries in the KG sector on January 20, died on January 24.

Officer who won back Tololing passes away

April 9, 2018 webadmin Leave a comment

Officer who won back Tololing passes away

Col MB Ravindranath

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 8

Col MB Ravindranath, the then Commanding Officer of 2 Rajputana Rifles that wrested Tololing Top from Pakistan intruders during the 1999 Kargil conflict, passed away following a heart attack in Bengaluru on Sunday. The capture of Tololing was one of the most important breakthroughs in the conflict.The 59-year-old officer had been decorated with the Vir Chakra for gallantry during the conflict. Though he had taken premature retirement from the Army, he was a regular speaker at some training and educational institutions.During Operation Vijay in 1999, he had been tasked with capturing the strategic heights of Tololing, Point 4590 and Black Rock in the Drass sector that dominated the Srinagar-Leh Road.According to his citation, he personally led the reconnaissance teams of his battalion under enemy artillery and small arms fire. During the assault on June 12, 1999, at Tololing, the troops were under constant enemy artillery shelling and heavy automatic fire. Realising the gravity of the situation, Colonel Ravindranath reached the spot and quickly restored the situation by his personal influence, which ultimately led to beating back the enemy counterattacks and consolidating the hold on Tololing and Point 4590.The battalion was again tasked with capturing area Black Rock on the night of June 28, 1999. During the attack, the assaulting company lost both its officers. Colonel Ravindranath personally led the assault once again and was instrumental in capturing area Black Rock.

Guardinan of Governance would work as eyes and ears of state government,” said Shergill.

February 4, 2018 webadmin Leave a comment

Nawanshahr, February 3

The Senior Advisor to the Chief Minister Punjab, Lt Gen (R) T S Shergill, handed over the appointment letters to the 167 persons of SBS Nagar, Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala, by adding that the Guardians of Governance (GOGs) would contribute towards the social and administrative reforms by monitoring the welfare schemes in the state“By appointing ex-servicemen as GOGs,

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has given a big task to the retired army persons for providing good governance and these Guardinan of Governance would work as eyes and ears of state government,” said Shergill.

He said the feedback given by the GOGs would directly be monitored by the chief minister besides concerned SDMs, DCs and Adminsitrative Secretaries. He said Punjab would be the first state to roll out the scheme, in the country.He said the scheme has been partially rolled out up to tehsil level in state and more budget would be provided during the coming budget session. He said the scheme, aimed at ensuring efficient and effective implementation of government schemes at grassroots level, was now being extended in a phased manner across the state. — TNS

Fresh tenders for fighter jets Reinventing the wheel, again and again

April 9, 2018 webadmin Leave a comment

Fresh tenders for fighter jets

The Defence Ministry’s disclosure about its plans to invite a foreign manufacturer to make 110 fighter jets in India has expectedly set the world’s major military-industrial complexes agog with expectations. Nearly three years after the Modi government scrapped the tenders for 126 fighters and then opted to buy 36 from the French, the wheel has come around in a full circle. The government had defended its retail-level purchase of just two fighter squadrons by hinting at another purchase plan up its sleeve that would bridge the gap between the requirement (42 squadrons) and the inventory (31 squadrons). It now appears that the government has formalised its often-aired intention of asking a foreign company to set up a combat jet manufacturing plant in India.This is an opportunity pregnant with several possibilities. If the plan succeeds, India will be able to lift itself in the technology adaptation ladder by several notches. The combat jet plant could become a strategic asset if the planes are exported to neighbouring countries. But as the UPA I discovered after ineffectually grappling with the 126 fighter jet tender for the bulk of its term, defence technologies are not readily available on tap. There may hardly be an example of a foreign defence behemoth transferring sensitive technology. They prefer to export ready-made jets or, at best, assemble them in the recipient country.India’s procurement culture is marked by a lack of transparency and often national security becomes the standard argument to avoid accountability for professional neglect. No heads are likely to roll for having kept the IAF fleet depleted for over a decade. The malaise extends to the other two services as well — outgoing service chiefs at times have drawn attention to the danger of India falling behind the equipment curve. Apart from failing to efficiently manage its arms procurement decisions, the absence of the Planning Commission means the government is unable to take into account national and societal needs while planning to induct expensive advanced weapons systems. This absence of a national planning system may prove costly for the country’s national security in the long run.

Will Gen Bajwa be able to rise to the occasion?

February 1, 2018 webadmin Leave a comment

The Pakistan army’s conflict with India has paid no dividends and it’s time Rawalpindi gave peace a chance

IF PAKISTAN WERE TO STOP SUPPORTING EXTREMISM, END CROSSBORDER TERROR AND EXTEND A HAND OF FRIENDSHIP, INDIA WILL RECIPROCATE WITH CONSIDERABLE ENTHUSIASM

General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Pakistan’s chief of army staff, has managed to increase his clout, especially over the civilian establishment. Many are already speaking of a “Bajwa Doctrine”. His statement recently that Pakistan will not seek resumption of US aid as it feels “betrayed” needs to be seen in this light.

In a recent, and rare, briefing to Pakistani parliamentarians, General Bajwa said the army will back the political leadership if it seeks to normalise relations with India. However, in the same speech, he defended 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed, chief of the terrorist groups Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and Lashkar-eTaiba (LeT), to support the Kashmir cause.

For more than 70 years the Pakistan army has been waging a low-intensity limited war against India at the Line of Control, ostensibly to complete what it calls the “unfinished agenda of the Partition” — the merger of Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistan.

In keeping with its strategy to ‘bleed India through a thousand cuts’ Pakistan’s army and ISI have been supporting terrorist groups like LeT and Jaish-e-Muhammad, to launch terrorist attacks on military and civilian targets in India. The spate of incidents in the Valley is part of this strategy. The ISI designates terrorists as strategic assets and as good or bad terrorists. Good terrorists launch attacks in India and Afghanistan at the ISI’s bidding; bad terrorists target the Pakistan army. What Pakistan’s ‘miltabishment’ euphemistically calls the provision of political, diplomatic and moral support to so-called Kashmiri freedom fighters, in effect includes the recruitment, training, arming and launching of extremists to conduct jihad.

Maintaining half-a-million armed forces to ward off phantom threats has drained Pakistan’s exchequer and hampered its socio-economic development. The conventional wisdom in GHQ Rawalpindi is that India poses an existentialist threat to Pakistan. It is of the view that keeping India embroiled in countering cross-border, State-sponsored terrorism is a low cost, high pay-off option to destabilise India.

If the Pakistan army carries out a dispassionate analysis of the actual pay-offs of its policy of giving State patronage to terrorist groups within Pakistan, it will realise that it has created a Frankenstein. The GHQ will find that hostility with India over seven decades has yielded no dividends. Radical extremism is gnawing at Pakistan’s innards and its name has become synonymous with international terrorism.

The Balochis are fighting for their independence, despite the military jackboot riding roughshod over their human rights and dreams. The Shia-Sunni sectarian divide appears unbridgeable and creeping Talibanisation is posing new threats. Pakistan’s economy is in the doldrums and, with the $54 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in full swing, the country is heading for an inevitable debt trap.

The international community is apprehensive of the likelihood of a few of Pakistan’s nuclear warheads falling into jihadi hands through subversion. Given the extent of radicalisation of the Pakistan army, even more worrisome is the possibility of a jihadiled coup from within the army. The consequences of such a coup are likely to be horrendous — both for the region and the international community.

India has shown immense strategic restraint in the face of the gravest of provocations to keep the level of conflict low. Among the world’s large economies, India’s economic growth rate has consistently been the fastest for over a decade. At less than 1.60% of the projected GDP for 2017-18, India’s defence expenditure is among the lowest in the world.

The leadership of the Pakistan army must realise that there is no point in continuing to pursue a fundamentally flawed policy. In war, a general never reinforces failure. Since conflict has not paid dividends, it is time to give peace a chance.

If Pakistan were to stop supporting radical extremism, put an end to cross-border terrorism and extend the hand of friendship, India will reciprocate with enthusiasm. General Bajwa can rise to the occasion like a statesman, or fall by the wayside as another also-ran — like many of his predecessors. The ball is in his court.

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TAKEOVER ISSUE Gen Rawat, CM visit college

March 26, 2018 webadmin Leave a comment

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 25

Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat along with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat visited Veer Chandra Singh Garhwal Government Institute of Medical Science and Research, Srinagar Garhwal, at Pauri district of Uttarakhand today.The two spent time visiting various sections of the medical college and held a meeting with the management. The visit of the Army Chief to Veer Chandra Singh Garhwal Government Institute of Medical Science and Research holds significance as Army is preparing to take it over. The Army will develop it on the lines of Armed Forces Medical College, Pune.Since its inception some years ago, Srinagar Medical College has been facing manpower shortage. The hospital was set up to cater to the needs of patients from hill areas, who were forced to head to Dehradun or other cities in search of specialised treatment for serious ailments. But the medical college has failed to provide tertiary care to patients hailing from hill areas of the state.

INS KARANJ LAUNCHED:;Navy sets sail its 3rd Scorpene

February 1, 2018 webadmin Leave a comment

Officials celebrate the launch of INS Karanj, the third madeinIndia Scorpeneclass submarine, at Mazgaon dock in Mumbai on Wednesday. MUMBAI: The S corpene class submarine ‘Karanj’ was launched at Mazagon Dock here on Wednesday. Karanj is the third of the six Scorpene class submarines being built by shipbuilder Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) under the P-75I project. Admiral Sunil Lanba, chief of naval staff, who was the chief guest, said, “It is one of the most advanced submarines and better than those that the enemy country has.

PTI PHOTO■

As of now, four to five companies have responded to the request for information (RFI) issued by the Indian navy.

The meeting has also been conducted with the navy and finalisation of the firm will soon be decided.”

The Indian Navy launched the third state-of-the-art Scorpene class submarine, Karanj, in Mumbai on Wednesday. Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba’s wife Reena Lanba launched the submarine, constructed by shipbuilder Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai.The submarine will undergo rigorous tests for one year before it is commissioned, Admiral Lanba said. He called for introspection in the ship building business in view of the delay in the construction and commissioning of submarines.The first three submarines of the Scorpene class have been named Kalvari, Khanderi and Karanj. The remaining three (to be launched in the future) will be called Vela, Vagir and Vagsheer, a Navy spokesperson said.

Adieu to martyr killed in Kupwara

March 24, 2018 webadmin Leave a comment

Army jawans carry the coffin of martyr Havildar Zorawar Singh at his native Rail village in Kangra district on Friday. Kamaljeet

Ashok Raina

Kangra, March 23

Locals in large numbers paid floral tributes to Zorawar Singh, who was killed in a fierce gunfight on the frontier of Kupwara district on Wednesday, at his native village Rait in Shahpur.The mortal remains of Havildar Jorabar Singh, 43, were brought here on Thursday. The martyr is survived by his wife Sanjna Devi, parents and three children — two daughters and eight-year-old son Ashu. A large number of people joined the funeral procession and raised slogans ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Zorawar Singh Amar Rahey’.Subedar Rai Singh (retd), braveheart’s father, said he was blessed to have a son like Zorawar Singh.Urban Development Minister Sarveen Chaudhary, who represents the Shahpur constituency, laid the wreath at the Chambi cremation ground. Shahpur SDM Jagan Thakur, SDPO, Jawali, Army officers and Congress leader Kewal Singh Pathania also paid tributes.Sarveen Chaudhary said the state government would provide all possible help to the family of the martyr.The last rites were performed with the state honours. Elder brother of the martyr was killed in a road accident a decade ago and his younger brother is mentally challenged. Now, the family’s responsibility is on the father.Pathania said in Kashmir, the situation was going from bad to worse. He blamed the Modi government for losing soldiers in such gunfights.

Virtuosity: Will Indo-Pak Relations Improve in 2018? | CNN-News18

February 1, 2018 webadmin Leave a comment

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Are we doing enough at the LoC? and, does the country know the real situation?

By Lt Gen (retd) Syed Ata Hasnain

: 27th January 2018 04:49 PM | A+A A- |

Public perception about the events at the Line of Control (LoC) and international border (IB) in the state of Jammu and Kashmir remains vague. I am queried on social media about losses of our soldiers, destruction in border villages, and civilian casualties. While the government may be right about putting out only basic facts and figures in the public domain, there is concern within civil society whether India is at advantage.

On top of it there are very few within the strategic community who know enough about this domain of warfare to comment with authority. Even within the Army’s rank and file, the LoC is the preserve of just a few who have handled situations and can apply that knowledge. The handling of the LoC became virtually a specialised domain after 1989.

Few know that India’s response is more than robust and that casualties are perhaps higher on the Pakistani side. That apart, the reasons for these exchanges escape even the better educated who cannot fathom what Pakistan hopes to achieve by this strategy of keeping the temperature at the LoC high. Let me explain this and then go on to analyse what needs to be done to increase the cost of Pakistan’s intransigence.

For Pakistan and its military leadership, J&K remains the emotional issue by which it can ensure anti-India sentiments. In current times, when political instability is rife and the future holds little or no portents for amelioration of that situation, it views itself as the only entity which can ensure Pakistan’s future survival. However, given India’s ability to restore control over the situation, Pakistan’s ability to calibrate the situation remains restricted to the domain of public alienation against India.

Yet, it is not easy to instigate public disturbances with stricter control of flow of money—which the Indian government has managed to achieve—and organising major terror incidents inside the Valley is becoming even more challenging. Recent failed attempts to infiltrate full Fidayeen groups of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) through Uri reflect a sense of desperation. The only domain which can help keep the J&K issue alive in the eyes of the international community is the LoC.

Three advantages accrue there. First, even brief exchanges of fire over sustained periods create a climate of concern. Second, targeting an odd patrol is always possible. Third, LoC activation helps in facilitating infiltration. The Jammu IB sector, for instance, offers the fullest scope for infiltrating small terrorist teams which can strike at targets in the vicinity of the Jammu-Samba-Kathua belt all within one night.

Given Pakistan’s current strategic confidence it feels constrained to resist US pressure and therefore the losses it suffers at the LoC is considered a small price for the perceived strategic gains. This apparently has multiplied after the Doklam standoff between India and China in 2017. With greater collusive approach by China and Pakistan in the offing, both countries are yet examining how exactly this needs to pan out. Peace at the LoC is therefore almost impossible.

Public is unaware that last year along the Nilam Valley Road opposite Kupwara, where the Indian Army completely dominates the Pakistani deployment, a truck full of Pakistani soldiers was targeted with many casualties inflicted. A shallow tactical operation was carried out at Rakh Chikri in Poonch to avenge the death of an Indian officer and three jawans. The Indian Army’s ability to withstand Pakistan’s fire assaults needs to be increased manifold. Many years of the ceasefire left this aspect reasonably neglected. The government has sanctioned 1,400 community bunkers for the civilian gentry. These need to be correctly distributed. The design parameters and use of right material also needs monitoring. Lastly, let us not be hopeful that the situation is going to improve. Northern Command should well be on the war gaming mode and public support needs to be fully extended to the Army.

Lt Gen (retd) Syed Ata Hasnain

Former Commander, Srinagar-based 15 Corps

atahasnain@gmail.com

More Indefinite delays for pre-2016 Pensioners and Family Pensioners

March 23, 2018 webadmin Leave a comment

We, 18.5 lakh pre-2016 Armed Forces pensioners and family pensioners will have to wait because of the apathy in the matter of revision of Pensions and issue of E-PPOs consequent to the Cabinet decision of 3.5.2017 to be fixed on the notional pay drawn on date of retirement/death as applicable. On the other hand, 1.5 lakh revised PPOs have been issued by PCDA (P) to Defence Civilian pensioners and family pensioners.

For All Government Pensioners

After the Cabinet’s approval dated 3.5.2017, the Department of Expenditure (DoE), MoF, through OM No. 1(13)/EV/2017 dated 23.5.2017, clarified that

“3. Central Pension Accounting Offices….Controller General of Defence Accounts under the Ministry of Defence…..

(c) Pension Accounting Authorities….(i) CPAO in case of civil pensioners and similar pension accounting offices in the Ministry of Defence…….shall pass on relevant data of live pensioners to the concerned PAOs by 31.5.2017…..In cases where data is not available the same will be obtained by the pension accounting offices from the disbursing banks and shall be passed on to the concerned PAOs. This action will be taken up simultaneously and completed within four weeks.

For Government’s Civilian Pensioners

DoP&PW has clarified on the Concordance Tables prepared by DoE as follows in OM No. 38/37/2016- P & PW (A) dated 6.7.2017 as follows: –

“4. These concordance tables have been prepared to facilitate revision of pension of pre-2016 pensioners/family pensioners by the concerned Pension Sanctioning Authorities. Due care has been taken to prepare these concordance tables based on fitment tables for fixation of pay from 4^th to 5^th , 5^th to 6^th and 6^th to 7^th Pay Commission.

xxxx xxxx xxxx

It is requested that the pension of pre-2016 pensioners/family pensioners may be revised w.e.f. 01.01.2016 in accordance with instructions contained in this Department’s OM of even number dated 12.5.2107 using the concordance tables enclosed herewith.”

The Concordance tables, and periodic amendments, are being circulated by DoP&PW vide OM No. 38/37/2016-P & PW (A) dated 12.7.2017, 18.7.2017, and 13.9.2017 respectively. Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO) has issued more than 29000 e-PPOs as per RTI reply dated 1.3.2018.

Defence Civilian Pensioners

PCDA (P) issued Circular C-164 stating at Paragraph 18 that PCDA (P) would provide lists of living pensioners and family pensioners from e-scrolls held by PCDA (P) to Heads of Offices (HOO) with a caveat that the list may not be exhaustive, and Circular C-164 at Paragraph 2 statingthat the Concordance Tables provided by DoE and mentioned in the DOP&PW letter(s) be utilised by HOO to prepare the LPC-Data Sheets required by PCDA (P) (emphasis added). Based on DoE’s Concordance tables, HOOs if Defence Civilian departments have been able to prepare and dispatch LPC-Data Sheets to PCDA (P), who in turn issued revision Pension Payment Orders to 1.59 lakh (25%) out of 5.58 lakh Civilian Defence Pensioners & Family pensioners as on 20.3.2018. The information is provided on the PCDA (P), Allahabad website http://www.pensionersportal.gov.in/PPOStatus.asp. There is no information related to the Defence Forces pensioners and family pensioners on the PCDA (P), PCDA (N) or CDA (AF) pages.

Defence Forces Pensioners

On the other hand, Concordance tables for Defence Forces pensioners and Family pensioners have not been issued. Further, CGDA has not passed on data of live pensioners to the Pay & Accounting Offices (PAOs), even obtaining it from pension disbursing banks where necessary, all within 4 weeks. Therefore, Defence Forces’ Veterans Directorates are unable to prepare LPC and data sheets required for revision of pensions and issue of PPOs.

MoD OM No. 17 (01/2017/(02)/D (Pen/Pol) dated 5.9.2017 makes no mention of Concordance tables that can be applicable for Defence Forces pensioners and Family pensioners as Rank Pay (4^thand 5^th CPC dispensation) and MSP (6^th and 7^th CPC dispensations) have to be added to prepare the tables. PCDA (P) Circular No. 585 dated 21.9.2017 also does not mention Concordance tables because, replies to RTI reveal that DESW and D (Pay/Services), are in consultation with CGDA to prepare the Concordance tables for pre-2016 Defence Forces pensioners and Family pensioners.

The following chronology, obtained through the RTI disclosures from DESW (No. 237/RTI/2014/D (P/P) dated 16^thMarch 2018 and earlier from CGDA), reveals the acute state of indecision on the issue of Concordance tables for pre-2016 pensioners and family pensioners: –

(a) 13^th July 2017: – Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW) forwards the DoP&PW letter and Concordance tables to O/o CGDA [PC to F No. 17(1)/2016-D (Pen/Pol) refers].

(b) 12^th September 2017: – Joint CGDA writes to JS (ESW) to issue Concordance Tables.

(d) 14^th September 2017: – CGDA advises D (Pen/Pol) to approach D (Pay/Services) to furnish the Concordance tables.

(e) 4^th October 2017: – Jt CGDA writes to US (Pen/Pol) drawing attention to Para 18 of MoD letter dated 5^th September 2017 that notional pay is to be fixed by Record Offices and Naval Pay Office. The UO note is also repeated from O/o CGDA to US (Pen/Pol).

(f) 5^th October 2017: – US (Pen/Pol) sends a reminder to US (Pay/Services) regarding the Concordance tables.

(g) 9^th October 2017: – Jt CGDA writes to JS (ESW) seeking status of Concordance tables to be issued in consultation with D (Pay/services). JS (ESW) seeks status from US (Pen/Pol) on 10^th October 2017.

(h) 17^th October 2017: – JS (ESW) writes to JS (E) for D (Pay/Services) to prepare the Concordance Tables.

(j) 25^th October 2017: – JS (ESW) writes again to JS (E) to intervene personally and arrange to issue the Concordance tables.

(k) 27^th October 2017: – US D (Pay/Services) vide MoD ID No. 1(26)/2017/D (Pay/Services) dated 27^thOctober 2017 writes to CGDA to prepare the Concordance tables and send them directly to DESW (Pension Division) for further necessary action.

(l) 2^nd November 2017: – Note 4 to US (Pen/Pol) that JS (ESW) has taken up the matter with JS (E) through a DO dated 25^th October 2017, however, requisite inputs from D (Pay/Services) is awaited. Note 4/n on F No. PC to 17 (1)/2016/D (Pen/Pol) refers.

(m) 13^th November 2017: – PCDA (P), Allahabad states that No PPOs have been issued to Defence Forces officers as on 13.11.2017 (No. AN/RTI/2969/SYS/2017).

(n) 1^st December 2017: – Jt CGDA, O/o CGDA UO No. 5700/AT-P/7^th CPC/Vol V writing an entreaty to JS (ESW) to issue the Concordance Tables as Pension Sanctioning Authorities are pressurising to enable them to issue the PPOs for pre-2016 Defence Forces Family pensioners and pensioners.

(p) 15^th December 2017: – Deptt of ESW vide ID No. PC-17 (1)/2016/D (Pension/Policy) writes to O/o CGDA to take up with D (Pay/Services) for expeditious preparation of Concordance tables.

It appears that there is either no action taken by DESW or no information available with DESW after 15.12.2017.

RTI reply also indicate that PSAs have not provided data on live pensioners to PAO within 4 weeks of 23.5.2017 as specified by DoE. Therefore, Directorate of Air Veterans (DAV), vide Air HQ/99798/Misc/7^thCPC/O/RP/DAV dated 13^thOctober 2017 requested for data from pensioners and family pensioners. The DAV website https://www.iafpensioners.gov.in indicates that 4057 Officers pensioners, 348 Officers Family pensioners, and 35206 Other Ranks pensioners have provided the information required as on 23.2.2018. All this data appears to be held up in DAV awaiting the Concordance tables which appear to be held up in a tug-of-war between MoD and CGDA.

DoE must have been aware that all Pension Accounting Authorities viz. CGDA maintain data on live pensioners for it to have the procedure at para 3 of its letter dated 25.3.2017. Even then, the statement by CGDA/PCDA (P) that it does not posses data and needs to be provided data appears perennial. This is in contradiction of the following instructions/training notes issued by CGDA: –

(a) The Defence Pension Payment Instructions 2013 for Pension Disbursing Agencies Booklet on the sanction and payment of Pensionary Benefits to Defence Personnel (including Defence Civilians) issued by CGDA (http://www.cgda.nic.in/training/trgDPTI/psm.pdf) is very explicit on the maintenance of records of Pension related calculation i.e. pay drawn on date of retirement/death etc.

(b) The CGDA booklet also states that every Pension Disbursing Authority (PDA) shall furnish a statement showing number of effective pensioners to the PCDA (P) on 1^st April and 1^st October every year viz. PBOR, Commissioned Officers, Family, Defence Civilians and Family pensioners.

O/o CGDA, has obtained data of live pensioners in 2012-14 to implement orders of the Supreme Court in IA No. 9 of 2010 in TP (C) No. 56 of 2007 also known as the Rank Pay case from about 45000 beneficiaries as revealed through RTI reply No. CPIO/AT/2013/HQ/1/1108 and UO Note AT/1/1483-Army/PC/V both dated 14.6.2013.

Further, in 2015, this aspect of CGDA stating that Defence Forces officers’ data is not readily available is mentioned in MoD D.O. No. 12 (1)/2015-D (Pen/Pol) Part II dated 29.5. 2015 from then JS (ESW) to Addl CGDA, especially in the context of JS (PMO) requiring certain calculations in a similar manner of fixing notional pay furnished (by O/o CGDA) in Maj Gen SPS Vains (retd) & Others case [F No. 4 (140)/2010/D (Pen/Legal) Vol II]. Later, O/o CGDA, working out financial implications of OROP on notional pay as in the Maj Gen Vains case at Annexures A to D to CGDA UO No. 5699/AT-P/OROP/Vol V dated 11^thJune 2015, has quoted the following figures of pre-2013 and post 2013 retirees as on 1.4.2014 as (i) Officers: 44, 595, and (ii) JCO/OR & equivalent 12, 64,228.

Therefore, the CGDA should be able to provide the live data of all pre-2016 Defence Forces and Family pensioners to the Pay Accounting Offices and through them to the RO/NPO. However, the unresolved matter of Concordance tables for pre-2016 Armed Forces pensioners and Family pensioners that will the stumbling block that needs RM’s personal intervention.

What’s New

Core Committe

ALL INDIA EX-SERVICEMEN JOINT ACTION FRONT

SANJHA MORCHA

CHAIRMAN ALL INDIA SANJHA MORCHA

BRIG PRAHALAD SINGH , Dogra Regt

PRESIDENT ALL INDIA SANJHA MORCHA ,Director (Hony) Sr Veterans Association, Ontario, .Member Indo- Canadian Veteran Association Canada

COL CHARANJIT SINGH,BENGAL SAPPERS

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JOINT PRESIDENT ALL INDIA SANJHA MORCHA

COL AVTAR SINGH BHINDER, SIKH REGT

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PRESIDENT DISTT PATIALA CUM JOINT SECRETARY SANJHA MORCHA

CAPT KUSHWANT SINGH DHILLON,BOMBAY SAPPERS

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PRESIDENT CALCUTTA ZONE SANJHA MORCHA

MAJOR JOGINDER SINGH KOCHAR

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EX-SERVICEMEN COORDINATOR : MOHALI

HAV NASIB SINGH , Engineers

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Print Media Reproduced Defence Related News

The Pakistan army’s conflict with India has paid no dividends and it’s time Rawalpindi gave peace a chance

Are we doing enough at the LoC? and, does the country know the real situation?

State Stalwarts

DEFENCES FORCES RANKS

ARMY, NAVY, AIRFORCE RANKS

FORMATION SIGNS

FORMATION SIGNS

ALL HUMANS ARE ONE CREATED BY GOD

HINDUS,MUSLIMS,SIKHS.ISAI SAB HAI BHAI BHAI

CHIEF PATRON ALL INDIA SANJHA MORCHA

LT GEN JASBIR SINGH DHALIWAL, DOGRA

SENIOR PATRON ALL INDIA SANJHA MORCHA

MAJOR GEN HARVIJAY SINGH, SENA MEDAL ,corps of signals

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PATRON ALL INDIA SANJHA MORCHA

MAJ GEN RAMINDER GORAYA , CORPS OF

sanjhamorcha303@gmail.com

PRESIDENT HARAYANA STATE CUM COORDINATOR ESM

BRIG DALJIT THUKRAL ,BENGAL SAPPERS

PRESIDENT TRICITY

COL B S BRAR (BHUPI BRAR)

PRESIDENT CHANDIGARH ZONE

COL SHANJIT SINGH BHULLAR

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PRESIDENT PANCHKULA ZONE AND ZIRAKPUR

COL SWARAN SINGH

PRESIDENT SAS NAGAR (MOHALI)

COL BALBIR SINGH , ARTY

INDIAN DEFENCE FORCES

DEFENCE FORCES INTEGRATED LOGO

FORCES FLAGS

15 Th PRESIDENT OF INDIASUPREME COMMANDER ARMED FORCES

Droupadi Murmu

DEFENCE MINISTER

Minister Rajnath Singh

CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF (2nd)

General Anil Chauhan PVSM UYSM AVSM SM VSM

INDIAN FORCES CHIEFS

CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF(29th)

General Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM (30 Jun 2024 to Till Date)

CHIEF OF AIR STAFF(27th)

Air Marshal AP Singh

Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS)

Admiral R Hari Kumar, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC

COMMANDS

GOC-in-C NORTHERN COMMAND

LT GEN MV SUCHINDRA KUMAR PVSM, AVSM, YSM**, VSM GOC-IN-C, NORTHERN COMMAND

GOC-in-C WESTERN COMMAND

LIEUTENANT GENERAL MANOJ KUMAR KATIYAR, AVSM

GOC-in-C CENTRAL COMMAND

Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta, UYSM, AVSM, YSM

PRESIDENT ALL INDIA
SANJHA MORCHA ,
Director (Hony) Sr Veterans Association, Ontario,
.Member Indo- Canadian Veteran Association Canada

JOINT PRESIDENT ALL INDIA
SANJHA MORCHA

PRESIDENT DISTT PATIALA CUM JOINT SECRETARY
SANJHA MORCHA

15 Th PRESIDENT OF INDIA
SUPREME COMMANDER ARMED FORCES