Together- We Can

It will be foolish to assume that after the happenings of the last couple of months, the GOM will be not clear about any aspect of our pay status vis a vis any other service of the govt. These gents can sell ice to an eskimo and to think that they require any further explanation on this issue will be surely living in a fools paradise.
In the past two months here, we have shown varied emotions to a singular problem- bewildered, scandalised, sanguine, hopeful, in denial, flustered, desperate, rebellious, hapless and even resigned....
I hope, for the sake of our training, we do not approach an operation with this variety. Remember to Vote sensibly and vote together so that we stay relevent to safeguard the izzat and future of services

In the coming general elections service pers have options to

A) Vote at their native place or

B) vote at their place of service

Take a constituency such as Dehradun, Pune, Chandigarh where reasonable No of Sevice pers have settled. Also these stns host large services establishments. Take a station with 20000 service pers posted . All be requested to vote for one common candidate, say 'X'. Now if this major stn is also the native place/ place of settlement to another 20,000 service pers and their families, All to nominate one single Indl as the nominee for their proxy vote. The indl is further instructed to vote for the chosen candidate 'X'.

We shall have a bank of 40,000 votes at these places. This is adequate to make these people sit and listen. Isrealies do it all the time. The question is Can we look ahead together or we expect alms from the ungrateful

Lt Cols- The legal Option

Since things are not likely to change for the better for the Lt Cols, we must consider the legal option on priority. It can be safely assumed that about 3000 serving Lt Cols have seriously felt aggrieved due to non placement in PB-4. Another 2000 recently retired officers also would be embittered as their pension has been seriously affected. In addition a few, well meaning senior officers can also be expected to support the cause.
It is proposed that all officers (as above) contribute Rs 1000/- each to a central kitty. We develop a corpus of Rs 50,00,000. Now we file a petition to stay the implementation of 6CPC across the board, till the anomaly is sorted out in favour of Lt Cols.
The petition will be filed simultaneously in all high courts and even if one high court (there should be more) rules in our favor, then we can position our case in detail to the court and defend it in the supreme court.
Since the petition cannot be filed collectively being from the armed forces, the cases will be filed in individual capacity. For the initial stay petition, upto Rs 1,25,000 can be provided for the petitioner at each of 25 High Courts to avail a top advocate and his expenses
The balance amount of Rs 12,50,000 maybe spent for media education and the like.

Some of us may feel that our case is not strong. That is incorrect.
Our basic premise is that a Lieut has a starting pay which is higher than any other Class A officer starting off (Incl IAS). Also, the pay at the apex level, ie the Chiefs v/s the cabinet secretary, is also equal. Furter there is no rank pay for the lieut or the Chiefs and hence any dispute involving rank pay is infructuous. In view of the above, the pay for army officer having put in equal duration of service, should be higher than any other deptt's officer.
If the govt somehow feels that the other depatments have to work harder and thus justify that their pay is higher than the armed forces, then there should be more attrition and scatter in these departments and promotions sould be simpler in the army. But since it is not so, thus proves the fallacy of this befief on govt's end.

The courts are our only option. The time is of essence here.

The MMS Kohli Effect

Does this man realise what is he doing? He can't be doing the Narasimha Rao on this issue.
He has to act, even if in the negative, so that people can take whatever action they need to take. The discipline, esp for Lt Cols, has gone for a toss and I see a lot of problems for the commanders.
Our Cols and above will continue to stay loyal to the book (not to their juniors) and shall not think twice before stepping over your shoulders. They shall be corrupted enormously by the enhanced power of making or maring a career. I foresee moral degeneration of the army and immense strife.
As Lt Cols were drawing a higher pay than those now in PB-4 above them and their continuence at that level would not have made any hulla boo at the first go, makes one wonder if there is a ulterior reason for this public humiliation.
Sinister