OROP- DETAILS OF HEARING , SUPREME DIRECT GOVERNMENT TO HOLD DISCUSSION WITH ESM

Today 1 May 2019, OROP case was heard by bench of Honourable justice Chandrachud and Honourable justice Hemant GUPTA in Honourable Supreme Court. Our case was listed at S no 1 but
Honourable justice decided that they want to hear the arguments in detail and will attend to OROP after lunch.
During hearing Honourable Justice recounted the anomalies introduced in OROP released by GOI vide letter dated 7 Nov 2015.
Honourable justice also recorded that word AUTOMATIC equalisation of Pension for past pensioners has been replaced by GOI with word PERIODIC equalisation (five years) in the letter dated 7 Nov 2019. This is the main anomaly along with fixing of pensions of past pensioners one and a half increment behind with respect to present pensioners ( post 2014). Honourable justice questioned the Govt lawyer why equalisation cannot be done automatically? Govt lawyer Mr Rana Mukherjee replied that veterans want equalisation as a running scale on touch of a button. To this our counsel Mr Hujefa Ahmadi replied that though it is possible to achieve instant equalisation with latest computing technology in India but veterans will be happy with yearly equalisation in rates of pensions.
OROP counsel Mr Hujefa also quoted examples by showing tables how these anomalies are adversely affecting  morale of veterans and lowering izzat and status of past pensioners. It was conveyed succinctly that with these anomalies today a senior rank Naik (past pensioner) is getting less pension than junior rank Sepoy (retired post 2014). Similarly armed forces widows have been getting lesser pensions than post 2014 widows.
Honourable Justice also accepted that life of armed forces personnel is very difficult at Siachen glaciers and in wild deserts apart from their early retirement. They were also considerate to note that soldiers are also boarded out on minor disability and hence their working conditions are very harsh. Govt should do everything to mitigate their difficulty.
Govt attorney was asked to approach Govt and get the response of Govt on the way forward to solve these anomalies and to redress veterans grievances.
Honourable justice advised Govt attorney that Govt must call veterans for discussion and find a mutually acceptable solution to these anomalies.
Honourable Justice gave an order accordingly and fixed next date of hearing on 6 Aug 2019.

OROP CASE PROCEEDINGS IN SUPREME COURT ON 23/04/2019

Today 23 Apr OROP case was argued by our lawyer Mr Hujefa Ahmadi in HSC. Strong arguments were given by our lawyers. Honourable justice Chandrachud and justice Shah understood plea of exservicemen  wanted to understand how veterans are getting affected with this Govt version of OROP. Gp CAPT Gandhi explained to Honourable justice that veterans have been denied firstly given less pension by one and half increment, second veterans have not been given full benefit of 7 CPC and thirdly they have been denied full benefit of delinking of 33 yr rule.
Honourable justice fully understood our problems and are favourable to our problems. Arguments are still incomplete and will be further argued on next Wednesday 1 May.

One Rank One Pension to all Pre-01.06.1953 Defence pensioners and their families: PCDA Circular No. 622

OFFICE OF THE PR. CONTROLLER OF DEFENCE ACCOUNTS (PENSIONS)

DRAUPADI GHAT, ALLAHABAD- 211014

Circular No. 622

Dated: 03.04.2019

To,
1. The Chief Accountant, RBI, Deptt. Of Govt, Bank Accounts, Central Office, C-7, Second Floor, Bandre- Kurla Complex, P B No. 8143, Bandre East Mumbai- 400051
2. CMDs, All Public Sector Banks.
3. The Nodal Officers, ICICI/HDFC/AXIS/IDBI Banks
4. All Managers, CPPCs
5. Military and Air Attache, Indian Embassy, Kathmandu, Nepal
6. The PCDA (WC), Chandigarh
7. The CDA (PD), Meerut :
8. The CDA, Chennai
9. The Director of Treasuries, All States
10. The Pay and Accounts Officer, Delhi Administration, R K Puram; and Tis Hazari, New Delhi.
11. The Pay and Accounts Office, Govt of Maharashtra, Mumbai
12. The Post Master, Kathua (J&K); and Camp Bell Bay.
13. The Principal Pay and Accounts Officer, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, Port Blair.

Subject:- Implementation of ‘One Rank One Pension’ to all Pre-01.06.1953 Defence pensioners and their families.

Reference:- Gol, MoD letter No. 12(1)/2014/D(Pen/Policy)-Part-ll dated 3rd Feb 2016 (Circular No. 555 dated 04.02.2016), Circular 557 dated 17.03.2016, Circular 580 dated 05.07.2017, Circular 581 dated 02.08.2017 and Circular 591 dated 13.11.2017.

Pension Disbursing Agencies (PDAs) are aware that as per this office Circular No. 555 dated 04.02.2016, pension of Armed Forces Personnel is to be revised w.e.f. 01.07.2014 by the PDAs as per tables attached with the circular.

2. In continuation of the same, the rates of ordinary family pension, Special Family Pension, 2nd life award of SFP, Liberalized Family Pension, 2nd life award of LFP, Disability/Liberalized disability element for 100% Disability, War Injury Element for 100% disability (Invalid out cases) meant for post -53 retirees JCOs/ORs of Regular Army of Group “Y” may be allowed to the families of pre-53 retirees under OROP scheme.

3. Further, cases where data is not available with PDAs, the same may be referred to PCDA(P) Allahabad for issue of Corr. PPOs.

4. In view of the above, this office Circular No. 591 dated 13.11.2017 stands cancelled in toto.

5. This Circular has been uploaded on this office website www.pcdapension.nic.in for dissemination of all concerned.
No. Gts/Tech/0167/XXX
Dated: 03.04.2019 

Sd/-

(Sushil Kumar Singh)

Addl. CDA (Pensions)

GAZETTE NOTIFICATION OF X GROUP PAY

WHY PENSION UPDATION

 It is an accepted fact there is erosion of money value.The salaried class are badly affected by this phenomenon.In order to contain   this loss to a certain extent  due to depletion of money value Dearness Allowance is introduced.In the long run Dearness Allowance also become insufficient to safe guard money value & purchasing power due to unforeseen economic conditions, Pay revision is resorted to make up loss of money value & purchasing power beyond the ambit of dearness allowance .Now coming to the subject of pension, Supreme court has already  declared that Pension is not a bounty, it is differed wages for the services reentered & a right. Although Dearness allowance is given in pension also to make up the erosion of money value & purchasing power, but discriminated from salaried successors by denying pension updation during wage revision, even though pension is a differed wage as declared by Hon Supreme Court.Hence this is a case which comes under Article 226.

AN ARTICLE BY MBC MENON

PCDA Circular No.618: 7th CPC Casualty Pensionary Awards for Defence Forces Pensioners/family pensioner - Minimum Pension @ Rs.18000/- w.e.f. 01.01.2016

Office of the Principal CDA(Pensions)

Draupadi Ghat, Allahabad- 211014

Circular No. 618

Dated: 13/03/2019

To,

The Chief Accountant, 

RBI, Deptt. Of Govt. Bank Accounts, 

Central office C-7, Second Floor, 

Bandre- Kuria Complex, P B No. 8143,

 Bandre East Mumbai- 400051

1. All CMDs, Public Sector Banks including IDBI Bank
2. Nodal Officers, ICICl/ HDFC/ AXIS/ IDBI Banks
3. Managers, All CPPCs
4. Military and Air Attache, Indian Embassy, Kathmandu, Nepal
5. The PCDA (WC), Chandigarh
6. The CDA (PD), Meerut
7. The CDA, Chennai
8. The Director of Treasuries, All States
9. The Pay and Accounts Officer, Delhi Administration, RK Puram and Tis Hazari, New Delhi
10. The Pay and Accounts Office, Govt of Maharashtra, Mumbai
11. The Post Master Kathua (J&K)
12. The Post Master Camp Bell Bay
13. The Pr. Pay and Accounts Officer, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, Port Blair

Subject: Implementation of Government decision on the recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission- Provisions regulating Casualty Pensionary Award for Defence Forces pensioners/family pensioners-regarding.

Reference: This office Circular No. 570 dated 31.10.2016, Circular No. 582 dated 5.09.2017, Circular No. 585 dated 21.09.2017 and Circular No. 584 dated 07.09.2017.

Copy of GoI, MoD letter No. 16(3)/2017/D(Pen/Policy) dated 29th January 2019 on the above subject, which is self-explanatory, is forwarded herewith as annexure to this circular for further necessary action at your end.

2. As per ibid Govt. letter, it has been decided that following minimum ceiling shall be applied to the under mentioned casualty pensionary awards:

a. The Disability/Liberalized Disability/War Injury pension (i.e. total of service element plus disability/liberalized disability/war injury element as the case may be), shall be subject to minimum of Rs.18,000/- per month irrespective of degree of disability of the personnel.

b. The amount of special family pension,admissible to the families of Armed Forces personnel, shall be subject to a minimum of Rs.18,000/- per month.

c. The amount of liberalized family pension, admissible to the Child/Children of Armed Forces Personnel, shall be subject to a minimum of Rs.18,000/- per month.

3. All other provisions stipulated in above mentioned circulars which are not affected by the provisions of this letter, shall remain unchanged.

4. The provisions of this letter shall take effect from 01.01.2016

5. This circular has been uploaded on this office website www.pcdapension.nic.in for dissemination to all along with Defence pensioners and pension Disbursing Agencies.

No.Grants/Tech/05/LXXXI
Dated: 13/03/2019

(Sandeep Thakur)

Addl CDA (P)

VOPians Pay HOMAGE TO OUR BELOVED FORMER DEFENCE MINISTER SRI MANOHAR PARRIKAR WHO WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN SANCTIONING OROP

Manohar Parrikar, Goa Chief Minister and former defence minister, has passed away at the age of 63 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Parrikar was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer in February 2018 and had been in and out of hospitals in Goa, Mumbai, Delhi and New York since.

From an RSS pracharak to a Union Minister, the technocrat-turned politician was known for his administrative acumen and clean image, which left an indelible mark on the politics of the tiny state. A Mumbai IIT graduate in metallurgical engineering and among the first members of BJP in Goa, Parrikar was instrumental in raising the profile of his party from its just four members in state assembly in 1994 to its present status as a ruling party in the state assembly.

Payment of Dearness Allowance to Armed Forces Officers and Personnel Below Officer Rank including NCs(E) - Revised rates effective from 01.01.2019

No. 1(2)/2004/D(Pay/Services)
Government of India
Ministry of Defence

New Delhi, the 11th March, 2019

To
The Chief of the Army Staff
The Chief of the Air Staff
The Chief of Naval Staff
Subject : Payment of Dearness Allowance to Armed Forces Officers and Personnel Below Officer Rank including NCs(E) - Revised rates effective from 01.01.2019.
Sir,
I am directed to refer to this Ministry's letter No. 1(2)/2004-D(Pay/Services) dated 18th September 2018, on the subject cited above and to say that the President is pleased to decide that the Dearness Allowance payable to Armed Forces Officers and Personnel Below Officer Rank, including Non-Combatants (Enrolled), shall be enhanced from the existing rate of 9% to 12% with effect from 01.01.2019.
2. The term 'basic pay' in the revised pay structure means the pay drawn in the prescribed Level in the Pay Matrix as per 7th CPC recommendations accepted by the Government, but does not include any other type of pay like special pay, etc.
3. The Dearness Allowance will continue to be a distinct element of remuneration and will not be treated as pay within the ambit of Pay rules of Defence Force Personnel.
4. The payment on account of Dearness Allowance involving fractions of 50 paise and above may be rounded to the next higher rupee and the fractions of less than 50 paise may be ignored.
5. The payment of arrears of Dearness Allowance shall not be made before the date of disbursement of salary of March, 2019.
6. This letter issues with the concurrence of Finance Division of this Ministry vide their Dy. No. 63-PA dated 07.03.2019 based on Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure) O.M. No. 1/1/2019-E-II(B), dated 27th February 2019.

Your faithfully,

(Arun Kumar)
Under Secretary to the Government of India