Panel to look into pension, pay issues of armed forces

The government has decided to form a committee to look into pay and pension-related issues of armed forces personnel, including the long-standing demand for one rank, one pension (OROP). HT reports.

The government has decided to form a committee to look into pay and pension-related issues of armed forces personnel, including the long-standing demand for one rank, one pension (OROP).

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Defence pensioners have been seeking equal pension for personnel of the same rank and length of service, as successive pay commissions have widened the gap between the pensions received by personnel who retired before and after the implementation of the pay panel reports. The defence ministry has so far rejected the OROP demand, arguing that it is not acceptable due to administrative, financial and legal reasons.

Ex-servicemen had criticised the Sixth Pay Commission for creating “four classes within a class” — pre-1996, post-1996 to December 2005, post January 2006 to September 2008 and post October 2008.

The panel’s terms of reference includes looking into initial pay-fixation of officers in the rank of lieutenant colonel to brigadier, placing three-star officers in the HAG+ scale.