ONE RANK ONE PENSION (OROP)

Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM (Retd)                                                                                                

Advisor United Front of Ex Servicemen &                                                                               

Chairman Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM)                                                                                            

Mobile: 9312404269, 0124-4110570                                                                   

Email:satbirsm@gmail.com

....................................

              Dated:  23 Sep 2022

Shri Narendra Modi                                              

Prime Minister of India                                                                                  

Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)                                                                                                    

Delhi – 110 001

 

ONE RANK ONE PENSION (OROP)

Hon’bel Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi Ji,

1.         I write this letter to refresh our memories of 15th Sep 2013, you as newly Designated Prime Minister of Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), landed by helicopter at Rewari (Haryana) around 2 PM to address a very largely attended Ex-servicemen Rally.  General VK Singh was present on the stage alongwith senior Defence officers, where I happened to be also present.

2.       During your address you assured Ex-Servicemen that if your Party came to Power in 2014 Lok Sabha Election,   One Rank One Pension (OROP) will be implemented.   Your party won the election and was Sworn-in on 26 May 2014. Hon'ble President and Supreme Commander of Armed Force, while addressing both houses of parliament on 9th Jun 2014 announced the decision of his Govt to grant OROP.  During Budget Speech on 11th Jul 2014, Hon’ble Finance Minister, once again announced the decision of grant of OROP  and earmarked additional Rs 1000 crore.

3.       Thereafter, there was lull in the grant of OROP, inspite of numerous representations.  The Ex-servicemen went relentlessly from Pillar to Post requesting for the implementation of OROP, the same was not granted.

4.       When all doors were closed, Ex-servicemen with effect from 15th Jun 2015 were forced to start Relay Hunger Strike (RHS) as a Peaceful Protest across the country with Jantar Mantar, New Delhi as the Central Headquarter.    Finally your Govt implemented LANGRHI OROP and not Full OROP on 7th Nov 2015, as per the Concept and Definition given by your Govt through a letter issued by Directorate of Ex-servicemen Welfare (DESW) dt 02 Dec 2014.  

5.       The Ex-servicemen found numerous anomalies in the above letter and requested Min of Def to resolve the same. The Govt Constituted One Man Judicial Committee (OMJC) on 14th Dec 2014,  headed by Justice L.Narasimha Reddy, retired Chief Justice of Patna High Court. The committee submitted its report on 26th Oct 2016.   The report was neither made public, nor implemented.  The report needs to be made public.

6.     Renowned Legal Luminary Late Shri Ram Jethmalani,  himself came to Jantar Mantar New Delhi, informed all Ex-servicemen present that the Full OROP has not been implemented and that he will personally take up the responsibility to file  case and represent to Hon’ble Supreme Court for grant of Full OROP.  He filed and represented the case in Hon’ble Supreme Court with effect from 9th Jun 2016.  Hon’ble Supreme Court in its order on 01 May 2019 directed Min of Def to resolve the OROP anomalies, but the same was not carried out. 

7.         Hon’ble Supreme Court  gave the judgement on 16 Mar 2022 stating that there were no legal infirmities in the letter  dt 7th  Nov 2015  and ordered MoD to  pay arrears to all entitled Ex-servicemen pensioners  and their dependents within three months with effect from  01 Jul 2019 as per the Govt letter  dated 7th  Nov 2015.  However, the same was not carried out within the time schedule ordered by Hon’ble Supreme Court. Week before the expiry of time MoD moved an application for extension of time for three months on 9th Jun 2022.  MoD application was heard on 16th Sep 2022.  Hon’ble Supreme Court accepted the Govt request and granted three months with effect from 16th Sep to 15th Dec 2022 for the payment of arrears.

8.       Hon’ble Prime Minister, we feel that in the computer and IT age, arrears should have been paid within three months.  However, even after six months the arrears have not been paid.  In the meantime, large number of Ex-servicemen and their dependent pensioners have passed away waiting for their due emoluments. 

9.       Sir! Your Soldiers Deserve Better, as you have always praised them and asked the people of India to give due respect to them.

10.       May we request you for consideration and direction for the payment of arrears and equalisations of pensions with effect from 01 Jul 2019 at the earliest please. 

                                                                                   

With regards,    

                       

Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM (Retd)                                                                                                

Advisor United Front of Ex Servicemen &                                                                               

Chairman Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM)                                                                                            

Mobile: 9312404269, 0124-4110570                                                                   

Email:satbirsm@gmail.com

Copy to:- 

Sh. Rajnath Singh

Hon’ble Raksha Mantri                                             

104, South Block, New Delhi-110011

For information and positive consideration please.

General Manoj Pande                                                       PVSM, AVSM, VSM,ADC

Chief of the Army Staff  

Integrated HQs of Ministry of Defence (Army)    South Block, New Delhi-110011

With request as above.

Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari

PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC                                         Chief of the Air Staff  Integrated HQs of Ministry of Defence   (Air Force)  Vayu Bhawan,                        New Delhi 110011

With request as above.

Admiral R Hari Kumar, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC, Chief of the Naval Staff  & Integrated HQs of Ministry of Defence (Navy) South Block,             

New Delhi -110011

With request as above.