IESM as Federation of ESM organizations and update on IESM activities

Indian Military Veterans

Dear Veterans

1)      It gives me great pleasure to inform the veterans’ family that IESM is an all India federation of Ex-servicemen societies of India. This is listed at Para no 1 of MOA of IESM. I am repeating para 1 of MOA of IESM for the benefit of veteran family. Quote “The Indian Ex Servicemen Movement, hereafter referred to as IESM is an All India Federationof Ex Servicemen’s organizations. The term ‘Military Veterans’ means the retired personnel of the  Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force. We, the Ex Servicemen of India, resolve to come under one umbrella in a unified federal structure at National, State and District levels in order to:-

a)      Bring all Ex Servicemen of India of all the three services under one umbrella through spirit of camaraderie and fraternity to make them a strong and influential segment of the country.

b)      Play a constructive role in nation building activities.

c)       Promote intellectual and knowledge based growth of ESM fraternity.

d)      Actively promote and support welfare and interest of ESM to ensure that they get a just and fair place in IESM.

e)      Provide a unified voice to all ESM of India on issues of national interest.

f)       Act as a forum of discussions of problems and vital needs of ESM which may arise from time to time.” Unquote.

2)      IESM has been working towards this goal since inception and has received love and support from veterans from all over India. Today IESM has life membership of more than 30000 veterans and more than 41 ESM organizations have joined IESM as associate organization (list is attached for information of all). Governing Body of IESM sincerely thanks all the organizations who have extended support to IESM in its singular aim of working for welfare of ESM and their families. IESM is also appreciative of those organizations that have not extended support to IESM but are working for welfare of veteran family. IESM wishes them well and God speed in their aims and objectives.

3)      During last ten years IESM has grown from strength to strength and has become leading voice of veterans, whether it was OROP or other welfare measures. All associate organizations are strong partners in deciding policies of IESM. Associate organizations are invited to attend Annual General Body meeting of IESM and take part in deliberations of IESM. It is matter of great satisfaction that OROP which was being denied to ex-servicemen for the last 40 years has finally been accepted in principle by all political parties of India. However the present Government, after having promised full OROP, has reneged its promise of releasing full OROP for ex-servicemen and in turn has released only LAGDI OROP. I will take this opportunity to inform all ESM that OROP fight is still on and IESM volunteers are still agitating at JM for the last 1191 days as on 17 Sep 2018. IESM has made many requests to MoD to rectify the anomalies in released form of OROP but the Government has not paid heed to requests and has not rectified the anomalies even after PM of India has accepted that there are anomalies in OROP which need to be rectified. Friends, IESM will continue with fight for OROP for the sake of Ex-servicemen family.

4)      IESM has taken up following cases for the benefit of ESM. Many of them have been decided in favor of ESM and others are being contested in various courts by our competent lawyers. The details are..

a)      OROP petition: OROP case has been filed on 9 June 2016 vide WP(civil) 419 of 2016 in Honorable Supreme Court. Our advocates are Sh Ram Jethmalani, Sh VK Tankha and advocate on record is Sh Balaji Srinivasan and Sh Arunava Mukherjee. Government of India filed their reply to the petition on 16 Jan 2017. Govt had announced 7CPC in 2017 and HSC had given a ruling removing 33 service rule for calculations of veteran’s pension. Both these issues had a long term impact on pension of veterans and hence IESM, in consultation with the lawyers, decided to file amended writ Petition to include benefits to veterans because of these developments. Amended writ petition was filed on 20 Apr 2017 in HSC. Government of India has filed their counter-affidavit on 1 June 2018. The issue was heard by two judge bench of Chief Justice of India on 27 July 2018 and IESM was asked to file rejoinder to the counter affidavit filed by GOI. The rejoinder has been filed and OROP case is listed for 29 Oct 2018 in HSC.

b)      Case for improvement in pension of Reservist soldiers: Reservist soldiers had been given a very rough deal by GOI. Their services had been used in three wars and then they were sent home with meagre pension. Their pension has now been increased to Rs 9000/ per month which is the minimum pension given by 7 CPC, which is much lower than the pension of soldier retiring today. IESM decided to fight the case for increase of their pension of reservist soldiers. It took very long time to collect historical documents to draft the petition. Many documents were procured by filing many RTIs. The petition was filed in honorable High Court of Delhi on the name of one soldier Sep Sher Singh Rawat as test case. The case is listed for hearing on 11 Oct 2018. Our lawyer for reservist petition is Maj SS Pandey, practicing in High Court and HSC. In the petition IESM has prayed for increase of pension for reservist soldier to be equal to pension of a soldier with same rank and with same length of service that is 15 yrs.

c)       Case for full pension for honorary rank JCOs: MoD and CDA have been denying pension of the rank to the honorary rank holder on flimsy grounds. In fact many Hony Nb Sub’s have won in various courts in India. IESM had filed case in AFT Delhi for more than 180 Nb Sub for increase in their pension. This had to be withdrawn on following two counts and now each Honorary Nb Sub is expected to approach AFT for justice. This is also included in our OROP case and is one of the prayers. Following are the two grounds on which this case had to be withdrawn.

i)        Many of the applicants had given wrong affidavit that they had not filed this case in any other court. Whereas Govt lawyer produced relevant documents that many of the applicants had already won the case.

ii)       Service particulars that total service and wars fought and number of years of color service and reserve service were different.

d)      Broad-banding of Disability: IESM had taken up case for giving broad banding benefit to all affected soldiers and officers’. The case of Brig Mahalingam and ors Vs UOI was won and order was passed by AFT on 17 May 2017 granting broad banding benefit to the applicants. Environment was informed by IESM that each officer/soldier must write to CDA based on the case of Ram Avtar Vs UOI that he may also be given the benefit of broad banding from date of disability or date of retirement whichever is earlier. If the Govt/CDA denies benefit then he must file a case in AFT. However MoD has subsequently issued a letter passing the order for giving benefit of broad-banding to all affected officers/soldiers w.e.f 01.01.2016. However if any officer/soldier wishes to get these benefits from date of disability he must write to CDA as per draft attached with this mail.

5)      IESM is always striving to improve the condition of ESM and veernaris and will continue to do so with active support of members including associate organizations.

6)      IESM requests ESM organizations to join IESM as associate members while maintaining their freedom to operate and lend their voice to strengthen the voice of IESM in taking up the issues of IESM.

7)    Chairman IESM has extended invitation to associate organizations to attend AGM of IESM planned for 6 Oct 2018 from 1030 h to 1500h at V/1A, Phase-1, New Palam Vihar, Gurugram  (Jahajgarh road Gurugram), Near Royal Oak International School and behind Baba Prakashpuri Mandir (Contact Number : 9718665280, 8860982003 & 09910853560. I request the office bearers to attend the AGM to give your suggestion to decide future course of ESM agitation to get full OROP as given by Koshiari committee and as approved by MoD on 26 Feb 2014. 

Direction to reach the venue. Pl take Metro Yellow line to city center Huda Gurgaon from New Delhi railway stn alight at IFFCO chowk and take an auto to reach the venue. 

Regards

Gp Capt VK Gandhi VSM

Vice Chairman IESM

OROP is our right. Dilution in OROP will NOT be accepted.

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