Q & A (7)

Readers may send in their Questions through email for a Q & A session with ‘Q&A’ as the subject. For rules, please read this post.

Thanks for the good work being carried out by you through this blog. It has become a routine for us to visit your blog. I had a query regarding the need to travel by Air India for LTC. The recent post shows that the travel by Air India is compulsory if the money is being paid by government. Is it the same for LTC also ? (Lt Cdr Ranjan)

Yes.

The delay and interpretation of CDA(O) for various claims leaves a lot to be desired. Most correspondence in this regard also goes unanswered. Even DO letters to concerned Accounts Officer and Principal CDA(O) are not replied to. What/Who should be the next step in grievance Redressal mechanism as regards CDA(O) ? (AC)

Simple. As discussed earlier in the Q&A section, use the RTI Act. Ask them about the action taken on your grievances through the RTI Act.

I wanted to know the disability (100%) pension and attendant allowance that my husband is entitled to after serving for 21 yrs and 9 months. He lost his eyesight in an accident on temporary duty. Please provide the rates before and after Jan 2006.Thanking in anticipation. (Aneeta)

As of now, the disability element rate for pre-06 retirees is Rs 5880/- per month for 100% disability + the applicable Dearness Relief. The rate applicable during the 5th CPC regime was Rs 2600/- per month. The rate of disability element is however likely to be revised soon. CAA is now admissible @ Rs 3000/- per month, earlier it was Rs 600/- per month.

Have the recommendations of the Committee of Secretaries been implemented ? (Col Srinivas)

The recommendations have been accepted. As on date, implementation orders have been issued only regarding the two issues of grant of classification pay for pensionary purposes and removal of 33 years’ service requirement for earning a full pension for officers who retired between Jan 2006 and Sept 2008.

Is it true that while defence forces are under the purview of the RTI Act, the para-military forces have been excluded from the same ? (Mahavir Singh, DIG)

Surprisingly Yes. However the govt is actively considering bringing the para-military forces under the purview of the RTI Act it is learnt. Moreover, the MHA is very much under the purview of the Act and in case the information required has a link with the Home Ministry, the RTI application can be sent to the MHA instead of the concerned CPO.