Hiked pension for pre-’96 retired Majors | Sanjha Morcha website basically designed to facilitate veterans to read defence related print media news , reproduced from various National/Regional /International Newspapers and Magazines and Videos related to welfare of defence personnel. click link below to open website.

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 3

The Chandigarh Bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) has enhanced the pension of Majors who retired before 1996. They will get pension as applicable to the higher rank of Lieutenant Colonel with effect from January 2006, bringing them on a par with similarly placed officers who retired after 1996.In 1997, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had issued a letter granting pay of Lieutenant Colonel to those Majors who had completed 21 years of service. Such officers were also released the pension of a Lieutenant Colonel since pension is based upon last pay drawn. Though the new dispensation did not make much financial difference initially, it resulted in heavy disparity after the Sixth Pay Commission.In 2013, the MoD issued fresh orders for releasing the pension to Majors with more than 21 years commissioned service on a par with Lieutenant Colonels with effect from January 2006, but only those officers who had retired between 1996 and 2006 were covered. This resulted in pre-2006 retirees of the same rank breaking into two groups. While Majors with 21 years of service who retired between 1996 and 2006 were getting a pension of Rs 26,265 per month, others who retired prior to 1996 but had same length of service were getting Rs 18,206.Based on earlier Supreme Court judgements, the AFT Bench comprising Justice Bansi Lal Bhat and Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra has held that it would be discriminatory to make such a division among pre-2006 retirees based upon a cut-off date. The Bench has directed that a pension applicable to Lieutenant Colonels, as is being given Majors with 21 years of service who retired between 1996 and 2006, be extended to pre-1996 cases also with financial effect from January 2006.The AFT has also directed the MoD to extend the benefit to all affected officers without forcing them into litigation.

Anomaly addressed

In 2013, Majors with over 21 years of service were allowed pension on a par with Lt Cols
But the MoD order only benefitted those who had retired between 1996 and 2006
As such, pre-2006 retirees with 21 years of service were divided into two categories
Those who retired between 1996 and 2006 were getting a pension of Rs 26,265 per month
Others who superannuated prior to 1996 but with same length of job were getting Rs 18,206