Public Notice for addressing anomalies on One Rank One Pension (OROP)

F. No. 12(39)/2015/D(Pen/Pol)(Part-V)

Ministry of Defence
Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare
(Pension/Policy)

New Delhi, Dated 13.04.2016

Public Notice for addressing anomalies on One Rank One Pension (OROP)

Government of India, Ministry of Defence, Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare vide notification No. 12(1)/2014/D(Pen/Pol)/Part-II dated 07.11.2015 issued orders for implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme for Defence pensioners. Detailed implementation orders of OROP with 101 tables containing revised pensions of different ranks and categories have also been issued by MoD, DESW vide order No. 12(1)/2014/D(Pen/Policy)-Part-II dated 03.02.2016 and uploaded on the website of DESW at www.desw.gov.in. The Pension Disbursing Agencies (PDAs) have been authorized to carry out revision of pension of pre 1.7.2014 pensioners drawing pension as on 1.7.2014 in terms of MoD order dated 3.2.2016 with applicable rates of Dearness relief without calling for any applications from the pensioners and without any further authorization from the Pension Sanctioning Authorities concerned.

2. All affected Defence Forces pensioners of various categories, Pensioners’ Association and all concerned authorities are requested to take note of these orders for their information and further necessary action.

3. In order to take cognizance of anomalies that may arise in implementation of OROP orders, its implication on service matters including inter-services issues, Government has appointed a one-member Judicial committee headed by Justice L. Narasimha Reddy, retired Chief Justice of Patna High Court vide MoD notification No. 12(01)/2014-D (pen/Pol)-Part¬II dated 14th December, 2015.

4. Defence Forces pensioners/family pensioners, Defence Pensioners’ Associations can submit their representation, suggestions/views on the revised pension as notified under above orders, to the MoD, DESW through post or by email at addresses mentioned below by 29th April 2016

Postal Address: Under Secretary/D(Pension/Policy)
Room No. 220A, ‘B’ Wing
Sena Bhawan, New Delhi-110011

Email ID: us-pen-pol@desw.gov.in

(R.K. Arora)
Under Secretary (Pension/Policy)
Tele: 01123012973

Click to view the notice

Authority: www.desw.gov.in

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12(1)/2014/D(Pen/Pol)-Part-II
Government of India
Ministry of Defence
Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare

New Delhi Dated 7th Nov 2015

To
The Chief of the Army Staff
The Chief of the Naval Staff
The Chief of Air Staff

Subject: One Rank One Pension (OROP) to the Defence Forces Personnel

In view of the need of the Defence Forces to maintain physical fitness, efficiency and effectiveness, as per the extant Rules, Defence Service personnel retire at an early age compared to other wings in the Government. Sepoy in Army and equivalent rank in Navy & Air Force retire after 17/19 years of engagement/service and officers retire before attaining the age of 60 years i.e. the normal age of retirement in the Government. Considering these exceptional service conditions and in the interest of ever vigilant Defence Forces, the pensionary benefits of Ex-Servicemen have accordingly, over time, been fixed.

2. It has now been decided to implement “One Rank One Pension” (OROP) for the Ex-Servicemen with effect from 1.07.2014. OROP implies that uniform pension be paid to the Defence Forces Personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, regardless of their date of retirement, which, implies bridging the gap between the rates of pension of current and past pensioners at periodic intervals.

3. Salient features of the OROP are as follows:

i. To begin with, pension of the past pensioners would be re-fixed on the basis of pension of retirees of calendar year 2013 and the benefit will be effective with effect from 1.7.2014.

ii. Pension will be re-fixed for all pensioners on the basis of the average of minimum and maximum pension of personnel retired in 2013 in the same rank and with the same length of service.

iii. Pension for those drawing above the average shall be protected.

iv. Arrears will be paid in four equal half yearly instalments. However, all the family pensioners including those in receipt of Special/Liberalized family pension and Gallantry award winners shall be paid arrears in one instalment.

v. In future, the pension would be re-fixed every 5 years.

4. Personnel who opt to get discharged henceforth on their own request under Rule 13(3)1(i)(b),13(3)1(iv) or Rule 168 of the Army Rule 1954 or equivalent Navy or Air Force Rules will not be entitled to the benefits of OROP. It will be effective prospectively.

5. The Govt. has decided to appoint a Judicial Committee to look into anomalies, if any, arising out of implementation of OROP. The Judicial Committee will submit its report in six months.

6. Detailed instructions relating to implementation of OROP along with tables indicating revised pension for each rank and each category, shall be issued separately for updation of pension and payment of arrears directly by Pension Disbursing Agencies.

7. This issues with concurrence of Finance Division of this Ministry vide their ID No. MoD (Fin/Pension) lD No.PC to10(11)/2012/Fin/Pen dated 07 November 2015.

8. Hindi version will follow.

sd/-
(K. Damayanthi)
Joint Secretary to the Govt. of India

Click to view the order – MoD orders for One Rank One Pension on 7.11.2015

Authority : http://www.desw.gov.in/

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Definition of One Rank One Pension as per Government order issued by MoD (DoESW) : The principle of OROP implies that uniform pension be paid to the Armed Forces Personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length oi service irrespective of their date of retirement and any future enhancement in the rates of pension to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners.

No.12(01)/2014-D(Pen/Pol)
Ministry of Defence
Deptt. of Ex-Servicemen Welfare
D (Pension/Policy)

Sena Bhawan.
New Delhi the 24th April. 2014

ORDER

As decided in the meeting on OROP chaired by Hon’ble RM on 22.04.14, a Working Group is constituted as follows to finalize the modalities of implementation of OROP based on the principle specified in the previous meeting on OROP held on 26.02.14. The principle of OROP implies that uniform pension be paid to the Armed Forces Personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service irrespective of their date of retirement and any future enhancement in the rates of pension to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners.

2. The composition of the Working Group would be as follows:

(i) Controller General of Defence Accounts Chairperson
(ii) Jotnt Secretary (SSW) Member
(ill) Joint Secretary (E). Deptt of Defence Member
(iv) Addl. FA (Defiance Finance) Member
(v) Representatives of the three Services Member
(vi) Addl CGDA Member
(vii) PCDA (P). Allahabad Member

3. The Terms of Reference of Working the Group are as follows:-

(i) To examine the proposal on implementation of OROP which was presented by the Services in the meeting on 22.04.14 to enable CGDA to prepare DGL after due deliberation on all aspects.

(ii) To work out the detailed financial implications.

4. CGDA would finalise the DGL and submit it to D/o ESW, MOD along with financial implications thereof within three weeks from the date of this order.

5. Since substantial increase is anticipated in expenditure on OROP, FA (DS) would thereafter seek additional funds as per requirement.

6. This issues with the approval or the Competent Authority.

sd/-
(Chahan Ram)
Deputy Secretary (Pension)

Source: Aerial View

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WHOM TO BELIEVE, OROP SLIPS DAY BY DAY, ESM TO TAKE IT TO STREETS

Dear Colleagues,
Accompanied by IESM Governing Body members Hony Captains Nagendar Singh and Balwan Singh as well as Risaldar Om Parkash I met the Raksha Mantri today. While I did highlight some other points, OROP inevitably topped the agenda. The RM has all the details worked out, including the expenditure involved in implementing OROP separately for officers, JCOs/OR, families, disabled etc. He did mention the latest spanner thrown in by a related Supreme Court decision (in the case of Maj Gen SPS Vains) where the OROP has been mentioned. However, he appeared confident of resolving the issue without much problem.

The RM is in full grip of the situation. He exudes and inspires confidence. In a relatively short time he has acquired good understanding of the complex manpower structure of the defence forces. He is also fully supportive of the uniformed personnel.

Timeline for OROP? All clearances seems to be in place. Work is progressing apace. My own estimate is OROP will come latest by 26 May 2015, when the NDA completes one year in office.

I have given the farthest limit so that we do not again fall prey to disappointment. Having said that I am hopeful it will come much sooner than 26 May. Till then let us be patient.

Other Points

Some other points that were mentioned and handed over to the RM are:
1. Reservists’ Pension. They are entitled to 2/3 of the minimum pension of a Sepoy with 15 years’ service, but not less than Rs 3,500/- per month. As of now they are getting their entitlement. With OROP the minimum pension of a Sepoy will rise, necessitating up-scaling of the Reservists’ pension.Their number is very small.

2. Pension of pre-2006 Hony Naib Subedars. As of today, Hony Naib Subedars of post 1.1.2006 era are getting the pension of a regular Naib Subedar but the pre- 2006 retirees are getting a Havildar’s pension. Number of the affected persons being small and finite, this anomaly needs to be removed.

3. Pension of Majors. It was highlighted that concept of OROP as well as Supreme Court ruling speak against creating a dividing line for grant of pension. Therefore, while considering grant of a Lt Colonel’s pension to a pre 16.12.2004 Major, there should be no further dividing line based on 1.1.1996. Officers that retired prior to 1.1.1996 in the rank of Major are only about 700 in number and should not be subjected to any discrimination. The point was registered.

4. Minimising Court Cases. It was highlighted that till the Third Pay Commission, there were practically no court cases. Any pay commission anomaly that was perceived was discussed and resolved between the Army Chief, Defence Secretary and their assisting staff. That system needs to be revived.

In this connection I also highlighted that when a military person seeks legal intervention, he is actually a representative of a larger group. There should be a provision where the relief provided to an individual should automatically extend to others similarly affected. The RM clarified that legally, since it is not a PIL, the individual fights for himself and the courts cannot give that benefit to others. However, an administrative mechanism can be put in place for extending such benefit to others. He further added that he is already having it examined for implementation. This showed how positively he is disposed toward resolving the soldiers’ problems.

Best regards,
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan
Chairman IESM
262, Sector – 17A
Gurgaon – 122 001

Source: www.ex-airman.blogspot.in

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06 Apr 2015
Dear Veterans,
Jai Hind.

The OROP file has been cleared by Ministry of Finance and is now with PM.

There is NO DILUTION of the Definition of OROP as announced twice in the Lok Sabha.

However, the X and Y Group pensions, of JCOs and OR will be different, as always, and not same as expected by some Veterans.

Source: http://ex-servicemenwelfare.blogspot.in/

The post FLASH NEWS ON ONE RANK ONE PENSION – OROP FILE HAS BEEN CLEARED BY FINMIN AND IS NOW WITH PM appeared first on CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES NEWS.

But their learned comments sparked off some questions.

1. What happens in the OROP of the pre-AVSC Majors and Lt Cols with 26 years of service? Would they want the pension of Lt Cols and Cols?

Would they be satisfied if a Major (with 26 years service) was given OROP based on an extended table i.e. 13 years table of a Lt Col with an average of Grade Pay of Major and Lt Col (i.e Rs 8000-6600= 1400 divided by 2 = Rs 700) extended to 26 years of service as on 1.4.2014?

Similarly, would the Lt Col with 26 years service be satisfied with an OROP based on an extended table i.e. 20 years of Col with an average of Grade Pay of Lt Col and Col (i.e. Rs 8700-8000= Rs 700 divided by 2 = Rs 350 extended to 26 years of service as on 1.4.2014?

2. Has the equalisation of 3% been misunderstood to mean increment of 3% annually? Suppose two Lt Cols A born on 01 Jul and the second B on 02 Jul. A would retire on 30 Jun and B on 31 Jul. A would not get the increment that B gets. Now what happens if both had the same number of years of service on retirement? Shouldn’t their pensions be equalised? Wouldn’t it be acceptable as the financial effect may be 1 to 2 % of the total?

3. How would the financial outgo be impacted if Army which has a larger number of Y Group puts in a case for X Group pension for all? Will there be lesser effect in the Navy and Air Force, which has a larger number in X Group?

4. If service in the rank is to be the criteria for OROP, then wouldn’t we need different tables for each Service, each Arm/Service/Branch/Trade? As service records are destroyed after a certain number of years, who and how would this data be provided? Because not every one is provided with or keeps copies of Casualty Reports (and equivalents in the Navy and Air Force)! And how will the clerk in the Banks calculate pension at every subsequent change for at the moment he has tables (in Circular 500 and 501) and where the X axis (rank) intersects with the Y axis (years of service) is where he/she obtains the pension due amount!!!

5. A figure of Rs 14000 crores would probably arise if CGDA (or PCDA (P)) decided that maximum years of service in the X axis and Rank in Y axis in Circulars 500 and 501 multiplied by the number of Lt Cols Rs 26265), Cols (Rs 27795) and Havildars (Rs 9145) and equivalents (the largest strength)with 28years of service or more. Wouldn’t it be prudent to take some real data say over the past 3-5 years to determine the actual years of service, which would definitely be less than the highest amount taken for calculations.

6. There are an increasing number of cases where Brigs, Cols, even some Lt Cols & equivalents, drawing Pay in the pay band + Grade Pay + MSP higher than Vice Chiefs and Army Cdrs and equivalents. Is there a case of OROP for the Maj Gens, Lt Gens and Apex scale?

7. Do the following tables (in circulation elsewhere) meet the points above?

Note:

1. Table has been made using real date available and best across three Services.
2. For Majors, pension has been fixed based on the pension of higher rank
3. For Lts and Capts, pension is based on VI CPC pay fixation.
4. MSP has been granted notionally to Major Generals and above to grant higher pension vis-à-vis Brigadiers.
5. The Enhanced Ordinary Family Pension will be equivalent of the re-fixed retiring pension, Special Family Pension will be 120% of the re-fixed retiring pension and Liberalised Family Pension will be 200% of re-fixed retiring pension.
6. For lower disability (less than 100%) the above figures will be reduced as applicable.

Note: –

1. Table has been made using real data available and best across three Services.
2. Stepping up has been done in cases where the pension for greater length of service in a rank is lower than the lesser length of service in the same rank.
3. Stepping up has also been done in cases where the pension in senior rank is lower than a junior rank for the same length of service.
4. In cases where real data is not available, the data of next rank for same length of service has been used reducing the pension by half the difference in grade pays.
5. The Enhanced Ordinary Family Pension will be equivalent of the re-fixed retiring pension, Special Family Pension will be 120% of the re-fixed retiring pension and Liberalised Family Pension will be 200% of re-fixed retiring pension.
6. For lower disability (less than 100%) the above figures will be reduced as applicable.

Source : Aerial View

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