One Rank One Pension & Separate Pay Commission for Armed Forces: Important Lok Sabha Discussion dated 13-07-2009

Q.NO. 126, Date 13.07.2009, Session No 2, Member Name, ASADUDDIN OWAISI, Ministry Name-DEFENCE, Subject: ONE RANK ONE PENSION FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL

TITLE   : Madam, I would like to thank the Government for accepting the Committee’s proposal.  The Reply given by the Government mentions about the revision of Lt. Generals’ pension after carving out a separate pay scale for them.  What would be the pay scale because post 1st January, 2006, a Lt. General used to get Rs. 30,190?  This is my first Supplementary.

PARTICIPANTS  : MANISH TEWARI , ASADUDDIN OWAISI , SUSHMA SWARAJ

ANSWER  : A.K. Antony , Mallipudi Raju Pallam Mangapati

SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI (HYDERABAD): Madam, I would like to thank the Government for accepting the Committee’s proposal.  The Reply given by the Government mentions about the revision of Lt. Generals’ pension after carving out a separate pay scale for them.  What would be the pay scale because post 1st January, 2006, a Lt. General used to get Rs. 30,190?  This is my first Supplementary. 

SHRI M.M. PALLAM RAJU: Madam, the starting pay for the Lt. General is Rs. 67,000/- to Rs. 79,000/- which has been created.

SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI (HYDERABAD): Madam, in reply to the question that has been put forward, the Government has agreed to set up a separate Pay Commission for the Armed Forced in future.  Can the hon. Minister say that at what point of time would this separate Pay Commission be formed?

SHRI M.M. PALLAM RAJU: Madam, directive towards this effect for forming a separate Pay Commission for the Armed Forces has been sent out from the Prime Minister’s Office and as and when the necessity for the Central Pay Commission comes about, the separate Pay Commission for the Armed Forces also will be set up.

SHRI MANISH TEWARI (LUDHIANA): Madam, I would like to ask the hon. Minister one question.   Would it be correct to summarize the position on One Rank One Pension as follows: that there is full parity between pre and post 1.1.1986 Defence retirees?  There is full parity between pre and post 10.10.97 persons below Officer Rank retirees and there is a modified parity between persons below officer rank retiring before 1.1.2006 and after 1.1.2006.  Would that be correct summarization of the position on One Rank One Pension?

THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI A.K. ANTONY): Madam, in the answer itself we have clarified the position.  We have clarified about five categories.  The main thing is that regarding three categories, there is immediately direct benefit.  PBORs are the largest number in the Armed Forces – out of 12 lakh people in the Armed Forces, nearly 95 per cent are PBORs.  Now, after this decision by the Government, the PBORs pension will increase substantially – minimum Rs. 800 and maximum Rs. 1,400 at the PBORs level.  Some of the Commissioned category Officers also will be benefited.  

Madam, there was a difference in the Lt. Generals’ pension. A Committee was also formed regarding the Lt. Generals’ pension. They will be also getting a substantial increase in the pension.

As far as other things are concerned, still we have our own practical difficulties and because of that the Committee was not able to recommend complete agreement regarding the One Rank One Pension.  But this decision is now almost nearer to the goal of One Rank One Pension.

श्रीमती सुषमा स्वराज (विदिशा): महोदया, आपका बहुत-बहुत धन्यवाद।  महोदया, सरकार की वर रैंक वन पेंशन स्कीम की घोषणा ने राहत कम दी है, कंफ्यूजन ज्यादा पैदा किया है।  इसलिए अभी मनीष जी ने जो तीन स्थितियाँ आर्टिकुलेट करके बताईं, अगर वह तीनों सही थीं, तो मंत्री महोदय को कहना चाहिए था कि हाँ, यह करेक्ट समरी है।  आपने कहा है कि प्री एंड पोस्ट पेंशन 1997 में हम लोग पैरिटी ला रहे हैं, तो मैं मंत्री जी से पूछना चाहती हूँ कि अगर एक अफसर 2004 में रिटायर होता है और एक 2007 में रिटायर होता है, उनका लैंग्थ ऑफ सर्विस समान है, तो क्या उन्हें समान पेंशन मिलेगी?

SHRI A.K. ANTONY: Madam, not only three, five positions were clarified in the answer itself.  We have answered the question very clearly about the five categories.… (Interruptions)

SHRIMATI SUSHMA SWARAJ (VIDISHA):  It is creating confusion. That is why, I am asking.… (Interruptions)

SHRI A.K. ANTONY:  There is no confusion.… (Interruptions)

अध्यक्ष महोदया: आप उत्तर मत दीजिए, समय समाप्त हो रहा है।

Source: Lok Sabha Supplementary Question List