EVOLUTION OF X GP PAY
CONCEPT
1)The concept of X
group Pay in Armed forces was conceived for the first time by 6th CPC,
abolishing Pay scale differences among the X GP trades and other groups (Y
& Z). All the Groups were brought under one pay scale, and X Group pay of
Rs1400 was recommended as compensation for technical Trades of Armed Forces, at
Par with Civil diploma holder. The formula adopted was the difference of Grade
pay of 4200 in PB- 2 & Grade Pay of 2800 in PB 1 of 6 CPC Pay structure, that is
4200-2800=1400, (6 CPC recommendation (Para 2.3.27) (Exhibit-1)
and was accepted by the GOI. The Ministry of defence through its implementing
agency, PCDA Allahabad has implemented the same without any cut of date as pre
& post 2006.
MODE OF CALCULATION AND FORMULA
IN 6th CPC AND 7th CPC
2) The above X GP concept and formula evolved by 6th
CPC was also followed by 7CPC by revising the amount of X Pay of Rs 1400 to
Rs.6200 for all existing technical trades by taking difference between entry
level pay of 7th CPC Pay level 6 (35400) corresponding to PB-2 of 6th
CPC Pay scale with grade pay of Rs 4200 & the entry level of 7th
CPC Pay level 5 (29200) corresponding to PB-1 of 6th CPC pay scale
with grade pay of Rs 2800. This is the method used to arrive at the figure of
Revised X GP Pay under 7th CPC (35400-29200 = 6200) for all 7th CPC X GP technical
trades(Exhibit-2)
Hence it is established beyond any scope for ambiguity that this is a revision
of existing X GP Pay & not a new benefit/ new concept which fall under
Principles laid down by the HSC.
This is protected under HSC's
laid-down principles governing pensions and cut-off dates contained in
Paragraph 48 (ii) of WP (C) 419/2016,
which reads as follows:
"(ii) The benefit of a new element in a pensionary
scheme can be
prospectively applied. However, the scheme cannot
bifurcate a
homogenous group based on a cut-off date. (Exhibit-3)
APPLICABILTY OF X GP PAY Rs.6200 AS CABINET RESOLUTION
3) Para 4(a) of the cabinet resolution dated 05/09/2016 which
approved the 7th CPC recommendations and allowed the X GP pay of
6200 do not mention any cut-off date and it also reiterates that it is the
corresponding revision from 6th CPC.
The same is reproduced below.
“Para 4 (a) Group X Pay: The commission Recommends
&Accepted.
X Pay for JCOs/ORs in Group X Pay at Rs.6200 per month: for all
X trades which involve obtaining a qualification which is equivalent of diploma
recognised by AICTE. This amount is the difference in the minimum of the Pay
level 6 (corresponding to Grade Pay of Rs. 4200 in VI CPC and Pay level 5
(corresponding to Grade pay of Rs 2800 in VI CPC (Para6.2.88).”
Para b) of same Reads as follows:
“b) X Pay for JCOs/ORs in Group X at Rs. 3600 per month: (standard
fitment of 2.57 on the existing X pay of Rs.1400) for currently in X Pay. But
not having a technical qualification recognised by AICTE (Para 6.2.88)”.
(Exhibit-4)
It is undeniably evident from the above extract of cabinet
resolution that it classifies X Group Pay on the basis of Qualification only
and not on the basis of any cut-off date as alleged by DESW/PCDA.
4) Hence it establishes beyond any doubt that the revised X GP
Pay of Rs.6200 is also applicable to the existing technical trades of 6th
CPC (Pre-2016) which involves obtaining a technical qualification which is
equivalent of a diploma recognised by AICTE from the concerned technical body
of three services and it is not a new benefit.
AIR HQ APPROVAL OF ALL EXISTING X GP TRADES FOR Rs 6200
5) Further it is
submitted that Air HQ is
the competent authority which decides about the competency of its trades &
its equivalency as per eligibility criteria mentioned in cabinet resolution
dated 05/09/2016 with respect to Airforce trades. The Air HQ has considered the
lower X Group Pay of Rs.3600 as mentioned in the above cabinet resolution only
for one of its X GP trades Namely “GARUDA” as mentioned in Para 4(b) of Cabinet
resolution dated 05/09/2016 & all other technical trades were equalised
within the eligibility norms as mentioned in the Para 4 (a) cabinet resolution
vide Para 1 of Air HQ Circular Air HQ/99141/1/AFPCC dated 8th May 2017. (Exibit-5)
Directorate of Air Veterans has
issued AICTE recognised diploma certificates to pre 2016 veterans of Air force
technical trades under the authority of AICTE vide their letter No.
AICTE/UG/G-41 dated 10th March 2003. (Exhibit-6)
6) In compliance of this letter Air
force Record office revised the X Group pay of all its existing technical
trades to Rs. 6200 by issuing new PPO showing it as the revised amount of X Pay
Rs.6200. w.e.f.01/01/2016 vide circular No.17(01)/2017/(02) ID(Pension/Policy)
dated 05/09/2017 &the eligible Pre016 have been paid same from 01/01/2016.(Exhibit-7)
BASIC STRUCTURE OF 7th CPC
7) It is brought to your kind
attention that the 7th CPC on its implementation adopted two methods
of calculation of Pay & Pension. The first Method was based on Notional Pay
basis & the second Method which was an interim measure using a
multiplication factor of 2.57 for PBORs of the Armed Forces since all the data
required for calculation based on Notional Pay method were not readily
available to the Implementation Authority at that time. Subsequently the
Notional Pay method which was the Permanent one as mentioned above was implemented
by comparing the basic pay from 4th CPC to 6th CPC for
arriving at the corresponding Pay in the Pay matrices of 7th CPC
including, revised Military service Pay, revised XGP Pay and classification Pay
vide DESW Letter No. 17(01)/2017/(02)ID(Pension/Policy) dated
05/09/2017. Accordingly New Pension Payment orders (PPO) were issued by
Airforce Record office to all pre-2016 XGP veterans with a condition that
whichever is higher will be protected. (Exhibit-8) The revision of ROP
as per the Cabinet approved, assent given by President of India notification
dated 04/01/2023 and on HSC direction to be carried out by taking the data of
those who are retired in the calendar
year 2018.The retirees of this this time period have already drawn their
Pay/Pension on the basis of notional Pay method with all reckonable elements
which constitute the basic structure of 7th CPC. Hence the OROP is
ordered to be revised, based on this data of above retirees, is bound to consider
all its reckonable Elements for Pension including revised element of Military
service Pay of Rs. 5200 and revised amount of X GP Pay of Rs. 6200 forms an
integral Part of OROR revision as per OROP original notification and revision
notification.
The cabinet Resolution No.1((7)/2016/Pay/services) dated
05/09/2016 doesn’t permit/direct anybody to divide the X GP Veterans between
pre & post for the eligibility of Rs 6200 as X GP Pay. The administrative
instruction No. 1(1)/2019/D(Pen/Pol) dated 08/04/2022reported to have been
received by Gts-Tech section, PCDA (P) Prayagraj, from MOD (Exhibit-9)
to Bifurcate the eligible X GP veteran under the above cabinet resolution on
the basis of pre & post 2016 is arbitrary & illegal. A cabinet
resolution with backing of an Executive Power cannot be nullified by a mere
administrative instruction.
SALIENT FEATURES MENTIONED OROP REVISION NOTIFICATION
8) The Cabinet approved, President assented & HSC upheld
OROP notification dated 04/01/2023 for revision of OROP from 01/07/2019 in its
Para 2 states as given here under:
“2.The President is pleased to decide that next
revision of pension under OROP
Scheme would be effective from 01/07/2019. Revision of pension is
based on the principle adopted in MoD letter dated 07.11.2015 which are as
under:
2.1 pension of the past pensioners would be re-fixed on the basis of
pension of defence Forces retirees of calendar year 2018 and the benefit will
be effective from 01.07.2019.
2.2. Pension will be re-fixed for eligible Defence Forces
pensioners/family pensioners on the basis of the average of minimum and maximum
pension of Defence Forces Personnel retired in calendar year 2018 in the same
rank and with the same length of service.
2.3
Pension for those drawing above the average shall be protected.” (Exhibit-10)
CONCLUSION
9) It is established with
authority, facts & figures beyond any room for ambiguity that the revision
of a existing benefit of Rs 1400 as Permissible under 6th CPC has
been revised to Rs. 6200 in 7th CPC adopting the corresponding
formulae for eligible XP veterans of Pre 2016.
VIOLATION OF NOTIFIED RULES AND
ERRORS IN TABLE No8.
10) The OROP revision from 01/07/2019
implementation Office memorandum issued by Department of Ex-servicemen welfare
with table No.7&8 dated 20/01/2023 (Exhibit-11) & Circular No
666 issued by the Implementing agency (PCDA) has violated the above Principle
contained in both the notifications without having any authority to do so &
in utter disregard to HSC direction mentioned in this matter. On mathematical
Examination of table No. 7 & 8 shows that the basic Pension do not tally
for X group trades after deduction of X GP pay for same rank & length of
service in table No.7
NEED FOR JUDICIAL INTERVENTION
11) The tables No. 7 & 8 in OROP
revision as attached in the Appendix to MoD Letter No. 1(1)/2019/
D(Pen/Pol)/Vol-II dated 20/01/2023 do not consider the X Pay @ Rs. 6200 for the
Pensionary benefits to the Air force Veterans of ‘X’ Group technical trades
which has been Recognized as equivalent to AICTE Diploma by Airforce vide their
Air HQ/99141/1/AFPCC dated 8th May 2017 and fall under the category of 4 (a) of
Cabinet resolution for X Pay of Rs.6200 for those who are retired before
01/01/2016. The Cabinet resolution classifies X
Group Pay only on the basis of qualification and not on the basis of any cut-off
date. The Pre 2016 veterans who were eligible for Group X pay of Rs
6200 have been deprived of and discriminated under both of the above tables in
an arbitrary and discriminative manner by a Casual clarificatory letter dated
08/04/2022 issued DESW on the basis of cut-off date calls for judicial
intervention.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx