Central Govt. employees and pensioners are likely to get 6% D.A. from January 2011.: Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS (Retd.).:

Central Govt. employees and pensioners are likely to get 6% D.A. from January 2011
Whatever the price of onion is; the D.A will not be as sweet as July last year. As per the All India Index published by Labour Bureau, Govt. of India the Dearness Allowance payable to the Central Govt.staff with effect from January 2011 may not be more than 6 percent.
The figure for Nov'10 has just released and it stands at 182. The December figure is expected in the end of January. Even if the figure touches 185 in December, which is very unlikely, the D.A. hike will be limited to 6%.
Only thing to cheer is the fixed allowances such as Children Education Allowance, Conveyance Allowance for some category of staff will be 25% more as the D.A. will certainly cross the 50% mark. It may be remembered that D.A. linked allowances such as Transport Allowances will be unchanged.
Source: Pay Commission Update

War Widow gets correct pension after about four decades :Veteran prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Dear veterans,
A war widow of Patiala, Smt. Rajinder Kaur Ahuja, had to wait for four decades to get the correct family pension.
Her husband, Flt. Lt. Gurbax Singh Ahuja (born on 6th April,1938) was commissioned in Indian Air force as General duty Pilot on 19 Dec, 1959 and promoted to the rank of Flt. Lt. on 19 Dec,1964. The officer was married to Smt. Rajinder Kaur Ahuja on 27 January, 1963 and a son, Aveninder Singh was born out of their wedlock on 30 Oct, 1963.
The young officer, Ahuja left this world in a combat during Indo-Pak conflict on 9 Sep, 1965 leaving his two year old son in the lap of his wife, who, then, was about 24 year old only.
The widow was granted special allowance (Liberized Pension) of Rs.526/- p.m which was erroneously suspended when the widow remarried with his husband's real brother but was restored on 1 Feb, 1972 when the authorities realized their mistake on being reminded by the widow.
But PCDA (Pension), the Pension Sanctioning Authority, again committed the blunder at the time of restoration of pension and the widow was granted an Ordinary Pension of Rs.96/- p.m. instead of Liberized Pension of Rs. 526/- p.m. which was subsequently revised to Rs.375/- p.m. on 1-1-1986, Rs.1275/- p.m. on 1-1-1996 and Rs. 3500/- p.m. on 1-1-2006.
When this discrepancy in pension came to light during a survey, jointly conducted by Indian Ex-Services League (Punjab & Chandigarh) and Ex-Soldiers, Sailor and Airmen Association (Both headed by Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal), the organization made the concerted efforts to get the widow her correct Basic Pension of Rs.22600/- p.m. with effect from 1-1-2006. and solved the case with in two months. Presently the widow receives a total pension Rs.32770/- p.m. Widow has already received an arrear amounting to Rs 14,50,000/- and about same amount will be released by PCDA ( Pension ) Allahabad after completing certain formalities in due course.

As Such the widow has suffered for about four decades to get the anomaly, in her pension corrected, though through the efforts of Ex-Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Association (Regd), a national level organization of Ex-Servicemen and Widows.

Veteran Bhupinder Singh Sohi.
Vice President.

Happy and a prosperous Diwali to all veterans and their widows: Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS (Retd).

Dear Veterans, Regards.
EX- SOLDIERS, SAILORS & AIRMEN ASSOCIATION (Regd),
a national level organization of veterans, wishes all veterans and the widows a happy and prosperous Diwali and further advises the veterans to get their own pension and the pension of war widows and old veterans above 80 yrs (known to them), checked up from the persons who are aware of the latest orders and notifications regading pension because it has been gathered by this organization that above 40% of veterans/widows are being disbursed wrong amount of pension by Pension Disbursing Authorities.

Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS (Retd).
President.

Recognition of Marriage after retirement for pensionary purposes-Navdeep Blog;Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Recognition of Marriage after retirement for pensionary purposes
Some Record Offices have been refusing to recognise marriages solemnised
after retirement of defence personnel. This refusal is based on an MoD
letter issued on 02-06-1989 in which it had been provided that marriages
after retirement would only be considered for family pension purposes if
in a particular case it is the first marriage and is solemnised within 5 years
from retirement or before attaining the age of 45 years, whichever is earlier.
This position by Records Offices is incorrect and in total contravention
of rulings of the Hon’ble Supreme Court as well as Government policy.
The restrictions mentioned in the ibid MoD letter dated 02-06-1989 were
withdrawn and cancelled vide another letter issued by the MoD on
05-04-1991 which was based on the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court
in the case Bhagwati Vs UOI.Claimants can claim family pension based on
a certificate issued by the Registrar of Marriages or an affidavit sworn
before a First Class Magistrate.Cases of officers are to be processed through
AG’s Branch while those of JCOs and Other Ranks are to be initiated
through the respective Record Offices.

SC wants separate pay panel for forces: Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Tribune News
SC wants separate pay panel for forces

R SedhuramanLegal Correspondent

New Delhi, September 8
Pointing out that many of the armed forces personnel have returned their medals due to non-redressal of their grievances, the Supreme Court today asked the government to consider setting up a separate Pay Commission for both serving and retired members.
“We feel this is necessary as the Armed Forces personnel have many grievances which they feel are not being properly addressed by the Union Government. Many have even returned their medals,” a Bench comprising Justices Markandey Katju and TS Thakur said in an order.
The Bench asked Attorney General GE Vahanvati and Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium to forward the suggestion to the government and get its response by October 18, the next date of hearing.
The court passed the order while hearing a petition filed by some serving and retired army officers challenging the government’s refusal to accord them enhanced “rank pay” as recommended by the Fifth Pay Commission.
The AG and the SG “were present on behalf of the Central government. We have made certain suggestions to them regarding setting up of an independent commission headed by a retired Supreme Court judge for looking into all the grievances of the serving and former members of the Armed Forces,” the Bench noted in the order, marking a copy each to the AG and the SG.
Earlier during the arguments, the Bench slammed the Centre for making army personnel run from pillar to post for getting their salary disputes resolved. “The day the soldiers are forced to fight for their salaries, it would be a sad day for the country,” it remarked.
Noting that the Army people who were a disciplined lot could not go on agitation like others, the Bench said forcing them to fight for their salaries was not good for the country. Citing a senior officer who burnt his artificial limb in frustration, the Bench asked the AG and the SG: “Why do you allow such things?”
The present Pay Commission headed by bureaucrats was perhaps unable to understand the problems of the personnel, the apex court observed and felt that setting up a separate commission would provide a channel for them to vent out their feelings.
The Bench slammed the Centre for making army personnel run from pillar to post for getting their salary disputes resolved.
“The day the soldiers are forced to fight for their salaries, it would be a sad day for the country," the Bench said quoting Chanakya's advise to Emperor Chandragupta Maurya.
The apex court said the sane advise of Chanakya was valid even today and it was unfortunate that army personnel are forced to knock the doors of the court for rectifying their salary anomalies.

All ex-servicemen Directors of PESCO submit resignation to Punjab govt.Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

All ex-servicemen Directors of PESCO submit resignation to Punjab govt
Friday, 20 August 2010
CHANDIGARH: In a major setback to Punjab government, the four nominated Directors, all exservicemen, on the board of Directors of Punjab Ex-servicemen Corporation Friday resigned in protest against Punjab government interference in the working of the corporation.Those submitted resignations included Maj Gen Trilochan Singh, Maj Gen Charanjit Singh Panag, Brig Kuldip Singh Chandpuri and Col Surjit Singh Sandhu.A statement issue under the signatures of Brig Kuldip Singh Chandpuri said PESCO was eastablished vide Punjab Act No.33 of 1978 with the sole aim of providing re-employment and economic upliftment of ex-servicement belonging to state of Punjab.The statement further said that the Corporation was drifting away from its main aim and objectives spelt out in the Act. They didn't want to be privy to its present day functioning.
INDIAN EX-SERVICES LEAGUE (P & C)
#3 Guru Ram Dass Nagar, Tripuri, Patiala.
Press Note
Patiala-21 August. Coordination Committee of Indian Ex-Services League, Punjab & Chandigarh, headed by Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd. and Ex-Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Association (Regd.), a national body of ex-servicemen, fully endorses the stand taken by all the four members of Board of Directors (senior veterans-Major Gen. Tarlochan Singh, Major Gen. C.S. Panag, Brig. K.S. Chandpuri & Col. Surjit Singh Sandhu) of Punjab Ex-Servicemen Corporation who have resigned en-block to register their protest against the intentional move of the PESCO Chairmen by which he wanted to please his political mentor in hope to remain in chair for some more years.League, further, requests the Punjab Govt. to dig the cause of resentment registered by the high ranking veterans and sack the Chairmen and others responsible for this episode.PESCO was initially established to provide the facilities for resettlement to the retired young soldiers who were sent back home, after laying their youth at the alter of nation, to keep the forces young. Veteran Bhupinder Singh SohiVice-PresidentIndian Ex-Services League (P & C)
Posted by Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal at 3:17 PM 0 comments

Press Conference by Ex-Solders, Sailors and Airmen Association at Patiala on 26-06-2010 at 11:45 AM Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Dear Veterans,
Regards.
Ex-Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Association (Regd.), in collaboration with Indian Ex-Services League, Punjab & Chandigarh, will hold a wide ranging Press Conference at Patiala on 26th June, 2010 at 11:45 AM to highlight the anomalies in circular no. 430 dated 10-03-2010 in which certain junior ranks have been authorized more pension than the senior ranks, to seek its implementation w.e.f. 01-01-1996 and its applicability to widow and reservist also. Association will seek a minimum pension of Rs. 4600/- in place of Rs. 3500/-. Association will also demand the removal of condition of ten months pay for fixation of pension and grant of pension to Hony. Naib Sub. equal to a regular Naib Sub. which the govt. has already agreed in principal. A large no. of News Paper correspondents and representative of T.V. channels are likely to attend the press conference.

Veteran Malkiat Singh
Gen. Secretary
Ex-Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Association