Parrikar overlooks Services’ objections to implement pay panel recommendations ‘Grievances, if any, can be taken up later’

The Tribune

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 12

Three days after the armed forces rejected the salary and emoluments offered by the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC), Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday told the forces that what has been decided by the government has to be implemented and grievances, if any, can be taken up later. It is now for the three Services — the Army, the Indian Air Force and the Navy — to decide on the matter, top sources said while revealing the day’s developments. The MoD has now “lobbed the ball” back at the forces even as some friction seems to be building between the forces and government.
IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha and Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba today called upon Parrikar and explained that the existing pay commission’s notification done by the MoD on September 6 was inadequate and anomalies remain unresolved. The three Services, in separate letters to their formations, had conveyed that they have asked the government to hold “in abeyance” the implementation of the CPC in view of the “unresolved anomalies”.
 The Tribune had first reported on the matter on September 11. Sources in the MoD said Parrikar conveyed to the IAF and Navy chief that what all has been decided has to be implemented and “legitimate grievances” can be taken up latter. The government holds an opinion that all demands of all arms of the governments cannot be met in totality. The decision has to be implemented. The forces believe anomalies lower the status and pay parity of forces vis-à-vis their counterparts in the police and civilian administration. On September 9, the three forces issued separate letters — termed as a ‘signal’ in military parlance. This is to inform senior commanders and the troops about the decision of the top brass. 
The ‘signal’ said “a few concerns have been addressed we have been constrained to request the government to hold implementation of 7th CPC award in abeyance in view of anomalies which need to be resolved.” The Services Headquarters in the ‘signal’ sent down to the formations have asked serving personnel to display maturity and patience and not get swayed by hearsay or speculative reports. The Chiefs of Staff Committee (CoSC) which met on September 7 had taken the decision and the same has now been conveyed to the formations located all across the country, or sailing at high seas. 
The Chiefs of the three Services, who collectively command a strength of 1.7 million (17 lakh), are members on the CoSC. In March this year, the MoD had conveyed to an empowered committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary that the status, pay and allowances of the armed forces be kept above all other “fighting” arms of the government. Parrikar had also taken up the case that issues of status, pay and allowances for the forces have to be paramount.