OROP II - great injustice is done to JCOs / OR in OROP -II.

Dear Veterans, 

1. I have been studying the OROP- II tables put up by Min of Def (ESW) on 20 Jan 2023 very intensely and carefully in the last 15 days. I find great injustice is done to JCOs / OR in OROP -II.

 I carried out almost research as to why none of Subedars and Sub Majs of Group Y get any benefit in OROP – II w.e.f Jul 2019. The following JCOs with Qualifying service do not get any benefit in OROP-II. The ranks shown below of Army, Navy and IAF have suffered financially.

(a) Hony Capt – 19 to 33 years. All Hony Capt do not get any benefit.

(b) Hony Lt – 23 to 33 years. All Hony Lts also do not get any befit.

(c) Sub Maj – 15 to 33 years do not get any benefit. All Sub Majs also do not get any beneft.

(d) Subedars – 15 to 30 years do not get any beneft.

(e) Nb Subs - 25 to 28 years do not get any benefit. 

2. On my analysis, I found that the root cause of this problem is in OROP-I w.e.f. Jul 2014. All those retired till Jun 2014 were given the benefit of OROP-I by fixing pension of those of same rank, length of service and Group X or Y, in calendar year 2013 (i.e. from Jan to Dec 2013).

 Someone would have drawn highest pension and someone also would have lowest pension in calendar year 2013. The average is taken as the pension to be fixed for all who retired till Jun 2014. What is the effect?

3. Let me illustrate with an example to make you understand. The average pension of Subedar / MCPO – II / WO  of Gp Y with 30 years retired in calendar year 2013 is Rs 12,690 as per Circular 555 (Table 7). That means some Subedar or MCPO – II or WO would have retired with pension of Rs say 15,690(highest)  and another would have retired with pension of Rs 9,690(lowest). This way the average comes to Rs 12,690 which was fixed as pension for all Pre – Jul 2014 pensioners of rank of Subedars / MCPO -IIs / WOs with service of 30 years and of Group Y. 

4. But the Min of Def made two provisions in OROP – I (also in OROP – II). One is any Subedar/ MCPO-II / WO got pension more than average of Rs 12,690 is protected i.e he will be given that pension but those whose pension is less than average of Rs 12,690 is given hike in pension so that his pension is now fixed at Rs 1,2690 though his actual pension could be Rs 9,690. So this Subedar with acutal pensionof Rs 9,690 got financial benefit of Rs 3000 pm. So far so good.

5. Now the tragedy is those Subedars / MCPO-IIs / WOs who retired any time after Jul 2014 to Dec 2015 were NOT  given the benefit of raising pension to that of average of Rs 12,690. Let me illustrate with a simple example. Sub Ram retired with 30 years of service in Group Y on 30 Jun 2014. Since he is Pre – Jul 2014 retiree, he gets benefit of OROP.  His pension was actually Rs 9,690 at the time of retirement but the average is Rs 12,690 so he got his pension fixed at average of Rs 12,690, thus he gained Rs 3,000 in his pension. But Sub Kishan retired on 31 Jul 2014 with 30 years service and in Group Y with pension of say Rs 9,800 pm. Since he retired in Jul 2014, he is not covered under OROP. So he draws Rs 2,890 per month less than Sub Ram till Dec 2015. Now take the case of WO Arjun Singh who retired on 30 Nov 2015 with pension of say Rs 10,500 pm. Now the situation changes worse for Sub Kishan and WO Arjun Singh in 7th CPC. See the difference in pension between Sub Ram and two other Subedars  /WO from 01 Jan 2016.

(a) Pension of Sub Ram = Rs 12690 x 2.57 = Rs 32,613

(b) Pension of Sub Kishan = Rs 9800 x 2.57 = Rs 25,186

© Pension of WO Arjun Singh = 10000 x 2.57 = Rs 25,700.

6. Now there are many whose pension is below Average but continue to serve and retire in calendar year 2018. Since they are not covered under OROP – I, they will draw less pension in calendar year 2018 than Sub Ram who draws pension of Rs 32,613 in 7th CPC. This is precisely the reason for none of Pre – Jul 2019 Subedars / MCPO IIs / WOs and Sub Majs / MCPO – Is / MWO not getting any benefit as those retiring in calendar year 2018 draw very little pension which is much lesser than Rs 32,613 of Sub Ram retired in Jun 2014.

7. Then what is the remedy?. This problem could have been eaily resolved had Min of Def (ESW) also gave benefit of OROP – I to those who retired in the period Jul 2014 to Dec 2015.

8. I propose to do two things. One is to recommend to President, TSEWA to represent to Min of Def (ESW) and Raksha Mantri t0 give benefit of OROP – I to those after Jul 2014 till 31 Dec 2015. If this does not work out, then recommend to TSEWA to file a case in AFT, Delhi.

9. In TSEWA the procedure is some one explains ( I will do it) why it should go to AFT Delhi. Two reasons are given below:-

(a) Denial of benefit of OROP- I to those who retired in the period of Jul 2014 to Dec 2015 is gross discrimination when both Subedars or WO retiring with same length of service draw different pensions. In fact the one who retired in Nov 2015 did more service than the one who retired in Jun 2014.

(b) The one who retired in Nov 2015 should get higher pension for his longer service. But in this case, he actually draws less pension than the one who retired in Jun 2014.

© The OROP demand came because future pensioners get higher pensions than the past pensioners. In this case Subedar or MCPO – II or WO retired in 2015 gets lesser pension. This violates principle of OROP to give past retirees higher pension enjoyed by those who retire later.

10. What will Happen if You all Keep Quiet.  Even in OROP – III w.e.f. from Jul 2024, you will not likely to get any benefit. You can only hope to get benefit in 8th Central Pay Commission ( if it is held with pay and pensions being revised w.e.f Jan 2026).

11. I need information to convince National Executive Committee of TSEWA for the two actions I suggested  i.e taking up a case with Min of Def (ESW) and also Raksha Mantri and then it fails to give you any relief then file the case in AFT Delhi. I need information as under those who retired in the rank of Nb Subedar to Hony Capt in the period Jul 2014 to Dec 2015  

(a) Copy of PPO / E-PPO. But some of the PPOs are illegible. Please send your (a) Service No (b) Rank (c) Name in full (d) Group X or Y (e) Date of retirement (f) Basic pension (without DR) in addition to your PPO / E-PPO. If TSEWA goes to AFT Delhi, then PPO is essential as courts want documentary proof.

(b) Please send your PPO/ E-PPO to my email address: brigvidya.tsewa@gmail.com.

© If you have not understood what I tried to convey, then do call me on my land line no 040-46016930 (from 0800 hrs to 1000 hrs and from 1500 hrs to 2200 hrs all days).

12. I am quite positive we will win the case in AFT.

Warm regards, 

Brig CS Vidyasagar (Retd)