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Thursday, April 9, 2009

PB-4 Attitude reflector : MoF now opposes move to raise retirement age of Hon’ble SC Judges

Relax, there is no conspiracy theory at play for denial of grant of PB-4 to Lt Cols, it’s just the attitude of our large, heavy, rusted, unwieldy wheels of officialdom. But this time the red-tapist baboos may be playing with fire. Indian Express (Yes, fauj’s favourite daily) reports that Finance Ministry has now opposed the move to raise the retirement age of Judges of the Hon’ble Supreme Court. The funny part is that this proposal was mooted by the all-powerful Union Law Ministry and the ‘rejection’ by the FinMin is not even supported by any recorded reasons. A close parallel can be drawn with the PB-4 issue which after due approval of the PM, GoM and the MoD is hanging fire with the finance babus presumably due to some vague voice from the MHA that PB-4 for deputationists in the NSG may create problems wherein officers on similar appointments from the CPOs would continue to be in PB-3 whereas Army officers would be in PB-4. The point to be noted here is that there are many appointments even on the civil side which are tenable by officers of varying grades. For example, the police chief of a district can be of the Senior Time Scale (STS) as well as the Junior Administrative Grade (JAG). Moreover even within the NSG, Army officers have to serve in SAG, while officers of the CPOs are with the SRG and there is no lateral movement therein. As it is, it is for the MoD to decide and the MHA to sort out such concerns and the MoF does not have an iota of jurisdiction to comment on such issues.

The problem is not with the structure per se but with the attitude of the people comprising this structure. The tentacles of red-tapism and non-application of mind have engulfed all pillars of our democracy and its sub-systems. Nuisance value today is directly proportionate to power and only those occupations are perceived important which have the ability of creating the maximum impediments in public life and in day to day activities of citizens. PB-4 will come soon but not before reminding us how elements within governance can embarrass even the highest echelons of authority with their irritant (little) worth. Sad, but true.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear citizen of India,
see the power of babus of The Govt of India.
come and join this babus fleet.
no other job gives u so much satisfaction of troubling others than the babus of Govt.
may ur tribe grow and u dissastisfy more people in India and abroad.
may ur senoirs prosper and grow to yield more power and stop all activities ...good and development.
this is the perfect way of conseving govt expdr.

Anonymous said...

dear navdep,
why can't RTI act be levied on these babus and they b asked to pay a 8% interest along with the arrears as due to all effected.
next time babus will do work in Quick march.
the penal interset b paid by babus from their pocket not govt.
like what court ruled regrding 4 babus of Delhi to pay Rs 28 Lakh for avdt of common wealth games.

A B Mehta said...

Finance people are trained to say NO. If you persist then they may say 'I will examine.' Secondly it is their job to see if by approving a change would others be affected or demand parity. It is in fact the other babus i.e. IAS and probably IPS lobbies that first brought our Lt Cols down and are now taking their sweet time to implement what the PMO has decided.
I may be wrong but are they hoping that 3rd front would come to power and they can reverse or modify these orders!!! (BJP and Congress are already in favour)

Anonymous said...

It is really a sad state of affairs. Defence forces should shed their holy cow attitude and embrace truly the democratic ways of expressing discontentment. Why can those who are unhappy carry 'Black Hankies' (albeit in pockets)???? Message will go far and wide.

Ramani said...

Good! At least we know now where things stand or rather is sitting.
I wonder if the MOF would show the same lethagy if required to pay interest on arrears?? They know they can get away with it.
In our schooldays we used to have debates on "which is mightier 'Sword or the Pen'?"
Well the Babus have proved that the pen is always mightier.May the pen live long long long.
Anyways, let us see if the Babus give in now or will wait for the new Bosses after election>..

Anonymous said...

Very Nice, NSG is a volunteer force tell the MoF not to give PB4 to NSG officers and inspite of that if army officers volunteer for NSG it is their fault.

Anonymous said...

It is sad to see that Forces have an enemy within the country who are bent upon demoralising the forces that too at a point of time when every thing around is crumbling. Thank God our men on the borders are still putting service before self.

pawan said...

Dear bloggers,
1. there are appointments in nsg where army officers and CPO officers are working together.

2. All the SAGs are commanded by Substantive Lt Cols (acting cols).

3. For comments by Maj Navdeep:--
Is it true that deputation to other organisation from defence is supposed to be for one level/grade up only i.e. post tenable by col equivalents in other organisation can be given to a Lt Col.

Anonymous said...

These obj/obs by MHA.what is the relevance ?
For any equations (non-existent and incorrect )in NSG,the AF does not have to change their pay eligible to Lt Col.AF is primary and NSG is subsequent.For any minor adm issues HOW CAN AF REVIEW THEIR RKS ?

Anonymous said...

Dear Navdeep,

Would like to know who is this Babuji in MOF specifically sitting on the file .I stay pretty close by and could help with some Gandhigiri.
I hope he is not being paid sit on it?
I only hope they wouldn't say -that the arrears cannot be paid because it violates the election code of conduct.

Baboos Jai ho !

Anonymous said...

Dear Navdeep,
I am looking for two letters first ADG (SD) letter No A/00559/SD-1/SD-1(C-1)/Policy dated 29 Feb 1996 and MoF/Department of Expdr letter No. 7(14)/C&V/2006 dated 14 Nov 2006 which lays down the entitlement of residential telephones to the entitled persons so that I can claim the same. If they are NA then could any one please tell me who is auth a residential telephone.

Anonymous said...

Dear Navdeep,

Well said. And we say that this nation remembers the sacrifice of our predecessors. Some time I think I made a mistake by joining this organisation.

Any way. Best Wishes.

Anonymous said...

'HOLY COW' thats the brand we have created for ourselves and somehow believe that this will see us through everything. CHANGE (Obama style) is whats the need of the hour. C'mon Fauj, wake up and smell the salts....

Anonymous said...

About entitlement of residential civil telephone connection :

-100% officers of the rank of Lt Cols /eqvt borne on the strength of a unit/org(earlier equated to Dy Secy to GOI but now senior to Dy Secy to GOI with PB-4 and GP 8000 granted to Lt Cols/eqvts by GOI) are entitled to have a civil res tel connection + broadband connection with some monthly ceiling fixed for reimbursement.

-25% of the total number of officers of the rank of Maj/Capt/Lt borne on the str of a unit/org (Maj equated to Under Secy to GOI in GP 6600, Capt junior to U/S to GOI but senior to AIS/Central Gp A services officers in junior time scale with GP 5400, Lt equal to All India Services / Central Group A services officers in JTS Grade Pay 5400). Some monthly ceiling applicable for reimbursement.

Anonymous said...

@All
I am also of the opinion that I did One BIG BIG Irreversible Mistake by joining this Org, and the only consolation I have is, I have served Directly my Motherland---Period, To Hell with Babooze, If this is the Attitude of General Public which the Politicians are Representatives of, then even God cannot save this country in future, I wish I am wrong, but I know I am not. And the Icing on this so-called cake of Politicians, is the Mix of Babooze and People like Mr Baniya of Indian Express
Jaihind
RM

LT.COL.HS DHAM( MAHARS ) said...

Hello Brother Soldiers of Army Navy and AF.Navdeep has become an indispensable cog in the wheel on welfare aspects of the Indian Armed Forces. My humble request and prayers to our senior rank cadre ie Brig and above should not accept any change/concessions till they are given/agreed for the PBOR. Let us not be baited for divide and rule colonial past. First the Country, second the troops we command and finally self.Dump the Ego, self interest and rank consciousness for ultimate UNITY. God Bless. Jai Jawan Jai Hind. Col Dham

Raghubir said...

BEING VOTE FOOLISH

Hon’ble Supreme Court has taken laudable step in launching contempt proceedings against the MoD for non-implementation of its orders on the illogical lower pension of Maj Gens. The people in finance have been doing such antics for a long time & getting away with it. Another case in point is in fixing an entire generation of officers much lower than their dues during the implementation of fourth pay commission as fought out by Maj Dahanapalan. They have somehow managed to wriggle out by taking plea of old records not being available-which could not be the case in this computer age. Even now they have dug their heels deep on the PB-4 for Lt Cols-its clearance by the Prime Minister not withstanding? The government must introspect whether it has been worth being penny wise & vote foolish by being perceived anti one section of its employees in the run up to the elections? More than not being fair- it is the sick mentality in denying the dues on one pretext or another –even by interpretation of the orders as they like it- which is sickening.In any case the entire defence community & about 4-5 people each have influence on- are going to show its exasperation in the coming elections. Hopefully?

Anonymous said...

This government only reacts to shoe throwing --i think a heavy DMS boot,should do the trick for us. I have three spare ones since I have hung them up 3 years ago- all designed to hit the bulls eye. Or we could courier these to Fin Min residence - akin to pink panties for Muthalik. Lets organise a boot collection drive with intended messages written withwhitners for effect. NDTV will cover the event for us.

Anonymous said...

Its a good idea... let us show the Boot.

Anonymous said...

The delay in PB-4 issue to Lt Cols was out today in NDTV 24x7 channel also. It too was questioning the delay caused by MoF with complete disregard to PM's order. I think Pm will only have to intervene again before his personal order becomes a mockery and is forgotten amon various Election related issues.

kmpods said...

Anonymous@ 9:44 PM
Ha,Ha, Ha. Well said. For such a noble cause I would like to spare currently in use shoes.
What Navdeep said in C box today, they can only delay and not deny. So we need to be patient. Meanwhile we are taught to wear down any enemy. So lets start thinking of ways and means to do that. Enemy in this case would be you know who
Regards

Anonymous said...

while reading the comments on this blog i got to learn about the auth of residential tele to military offrs. can some forward copy of the letters.

ADG (SD) letter No A/00559/SD-1/SD-1(C-1)/Policy dated 29 Feb 1996 and MoF/Department of Expdr letter No. 7(14)/C&V/2006 dated 14 Nov 2006 which lays down the entitlement of residential telephones to the entitled persons.

100% officers of the rank of Lt Cols /eqvt borne on the strength of a unit/org(earlier equated to Dy Secy to GOI but now senior to Dy Secy to GOI with PB-4 and GP 8000 granted to Lt Cols/eqvts by GOI) are entitled to have a civil res tel connection + broadband connection with some monthly ceiling fixed for reimbursement.

25% of the total number of officers of the rank of Maj/Capt/Lt borne on the str of a unit/org (Maj equated to Under Secy to GOI in GP 6600, Capt junior to U/S to GOI but senior to AIS/Central Gp A services officers in junior time scale with GP 5400, Lt equal to All India Services / Central Group A services officers in JTS Grade Pay 5400). Some monthly ceiling applicable for reimbursement.

Deepak Sreevastava said...

Hi every one. I am doing a survey on " how posting policy in the army " affects the ORs their morale etc. Can some one let me know wher can i find the resources?
my email is dksreevastava@hotmail.com
Thanks a lot.

Anonymous said...

Dear Sir, Post pay commission, 50% pension is admissible to all personnel who is retiring after 20 years of service but only for those who retires on or after 01-09-20008, this is injustice with the personnel who has retired between 01-01-2006 and 31-1- -2008. This is the benefit which has been approved in VI pay commission which is effective from 01 Jan 2006, even increased allowances should be paid from 01 Jan 06 for serving personnel. I am of the opinion that it should be admissible to all personnel who has retired on or after 01 Jan 06. Can this anomaly be taken up with your blog for rectification. I feel Babus are really looking after themselves leaving service personnel to fight their own cases. Service chiefs were confident enough to put their foot down for PB-4 for Lt col, thanks to them, finally it is approved.

mohandas said...

Dear Citizen of India,
Every after 10 years pay commission for Central Govt employees is announced (but for so called netas, it is any time whenever they feel and are together on this),certain upward revision etc takes and invariably come in effect from due datebut why pension benefit given in vi pay commission is from 02 Sep 2008 onwards? Premature retirements are more common in defence forces as compared to other central govt job because of strict selection and less higher appointments available, so the officers of defence force are the worst sufferer. will govt look into this again and do the needful to rectify this unlawful declaration.