Honorary naib subedars to get more pension

The commission had then recommended that havildars,granted the honorary rank of naib subedar,should be paid the pension calculated on the basis of the pay-scale of a regular naib subedar. Consequently,in 2009,the government issued instructions in this regard,but with effect from January 1,2006. Though the notification had merely stated that the new orders would be in effect from 2006,it was interpreted by various officers of the defence ministry as being applicable only to those honorary naib subedars who had retired after January 1,2006.

The Chandigarh Bench of AFT in February 2010,however,struck down the discrimination between pre-2006 and post 2006 retirees and directed that there could be no discrimination on this account. The Ministry of Defence had challenged the order in the Supreme Court.

Chandigarh-based All India Ex-servicemen Welfare Association (AIEWA) has written to the Ministry of Defence and all record offices of Army for implementation of the order so that all honorary naib sebedars could be benefited. “If the order is implemented,all honorary naib subedars could be benefitted,otherwise they will have to approach the courts for relief,” said Bhim Sen Sehgal,Chairman,AIEWA.