COAS interacted with Cols at Delhi on 01 Sep 2018, wherein he spoke on these burning issues. It is encouraging to see COAS share his mind with middle rung backbone of Indian Army. In taking forward COAS initiative of openness and transparency few facts missed out are elaborated below…
_*NFU*_
COAS said that he wants to fight for NFU but is constrained by two factors.
_*Firstly*_ MoD says that Army Offrs have made the matter subjudice by going to Court
_*Secondly.*_ if NFU is granted then MSP may be withdrawn by Govt, because of which Offrs may loose out..& that presently even Cols are drawing more than Addl Secy.
_*Facts on NFU*_
_*Firstly.*_ NFU was granted by 6 CPC wef 2006, but case was filed in AFT in 2015 after over 7 yrs wait when Services HQ & MoD refused to implement.
_*Secondly.*_ Presently Army HQ & MoD have made it subjudice by filing SLP in SC, not the Service Offrs.
_*Thirdly.*_ Service Offrs loose out on comparative emoluments by about 16th yr of service even with MSP & loose out in Status by 13th yr.
_*Fourthly.*_ MSP has been granted by 6 & 7 CPC to compensate for ‘intangibles’ of Mil Service. It replaces the war risk element which was earlier replaced by Rank pay & has nothing to do with NFU. Kindly read Para 6.1.31 of 7 CPC Report given below
to verify above fact.
_*Status Equiv*_
COAS reiterated that Services Offrs are different/ unique/ elite, even above All India Services & that Offrs should not compare themselves with Civ Services. He justified creation of about 300% higher posts by civ AFHQ Cadre.
_*Facts on Equiv Status*_
No action is being taken to rectify the downgradation of Services Offrs in their own Service HQ, in MoD & on Deputation.
Why WoP is not being implemented even in orgs under MoD.
No case is being pursued for setting up of HPC for defining Status of Uniformed Offrs as directed by PMO in 2008 .
Various degrading letters issued by CAO/ MoD are not being cancelled/ declared null & void, despite RM’s orders.
*_One doesn’t become ‘Elite/ Superior’ by mere spoken words in a democratic structure built on rules, orders and regulations…!!!_*
_*JCOs Status*_
COAS claimed that JCOs status issue has been rectified.
_*Fact on JCO Status*_
It still remains unresolved.
Despite JCOs being Gazetted by an Act of Parliament, O/o CAO still refuses to issue applicable Blue SLICs to them.
JCOs continue to be placed in Pay Levels even below Non Gazetted Civs.
JCOs continue to receive MSP as applicable to Sepoys as MoD refuses to rectify orders.
JCOs are equated with Gp C employees.
_*Pay Anomalies*_
COAS mentioned that only minor pay anomalies are outstanding & that they are actively pursuing Pay Anomalies with MoD.
_*Facts on Pay Anamolies*_
46 Pay Anomalies remain outstanding.
No case is being taken up for setting up of HPC, while Anomalies Committee for Civs had been set up imdt after 7 CPC.
As deliberate misrepresentations by MoD is the main reason for our outstanding anomalies, it serves no purpose going back to them again & again
Why is implementation of Pay Commission issues for Faujis has been completely handed to AFHQ Cadre civs, who have outrightly been competing with Uniformed pers for Pay & Status.
_*Offrs Rations*_
COAS stated that Offrs Rations are likely to be restored soon & that the issue had become little sensitive due to serving of Legal Notice to Def Secy by one black sheep Col Mukul Dev.
_*Fact on Offrs rations*_
_*Firstly*_ QMG Br in Army HQ themselves had earlier recommended abolition of Rations for Offrs.
_*Secondly.*_ Nudged by social media pressure, MoD had subsequently recommended restoration of Rations to Offrs, but The hierarchy still had endorsed remarks against its implementation.
_*Thirdly.*_ Though there are certain restrictions on Fundamental Rights of Faujis, however, there are no restrictions on right of judicial redressal, of which Legal Notice is an integral part.._*so calling an officer the black sheep may be unwarranted and uncalled for !!*_
_*Opening of Cantt Roads*_
COAS justified illegal orders for opening of Cantt Roads by MoD saying that LMAs had not followed the due procedures for road closure as given in Cantt Bd Act 2006, & that now Army Cdrs have been empowered for necessary action.
_*Facts on Opening of Cantt Roads*_
_*Firstly.*_ Cantt Bd is vested with only non mil areas of Cantt as defined in CLAR.
_*Secondly.*_ Access to mil areas is governed by Official Secrets Act, with mil areas classified as Prohibited Places.
_*Thirdly.*_ Cantt entry procedures have been given in DSR.
_*Fourthly.*_ Legality of closure of Cantt Roads has been settled by AP High Court Bench in its Judgement in Sep 2014.
_*Fifthly.*_ Army Cdrs had been empowered by an Act of Parliament which have now been de-facto nullified by MoD’s illegal orders..
_*Analysis & Way Ahead*_
The question is would it be right to blame only the higher hierarchy or the Neta-Babu for the woes? Can the middle rung who either provided half inputs or agree to motivated conclusions/ implications/points of view absolve itself? Progress can be made only when dealing hands at middle rungs start feeding correct inputs with honesty & integrity else would we keep fooling ourselves and the nation?
Time to introspect and check !!