Comments on: ASCENDING THE PAY SUMMIT : COLs & BRIGs By Lt Gen KK Aggarwal, AVSM, SM, VSM (Veteran)

By: Maj Gen Surendra Rishi

Maj Gen Surendra Rishi — Sat, 26 Oct 2024 14:53:39 +0000

A very well researched and presented paper. It clearly brings forth the bias which plays a significant part in systematic efforts by the decision makers to deny the Services their rightful dues.

By: Maj Gen MPS Kandal

Maj Gen MPS Kandal — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 14:32:40 +0000

In a telephone message, he said some kind words about the article. However, he feels that there is a need to review the JS-Maj Gen equation. He was critical of the JS being addressed as “Sir” by a Maj Gen. He believes that military officers should have a greater say in the administration of the armed forces.

By: Dr.P.Lall

Dr.P.Lall — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 11:48:45 +0000

Well written article. Interesting to know the drama and action that goes on behind the scenes so that the Soldiers of all ranks and services get what they richly deserve

By: COL S S MALIK

COL S S MALIK — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 14:19:16 +0000

Dear Gen K K Aggarwal,

Heartiest Greetings to have had covered the subject Pay commission Report in great depth that finally brought a smile on the saddened faces of service personnel. In the past CPCs, Def Forces have always been at civilians’s mercy . Surely, a well researched document to convince the well hardened bureaucracy.

DIWALI GREETINGS

Col Malik

By: J Thomas

J Thomas — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 14:07:43 +0000

Thanks for the account.

Globally, the practice is that officer cadets are subject to Army/Navy/AF law. And the notional rank for applying the law is Havildar/equivalent. This also means that officer cadets get the salary of a Havildar during training. Even more important, if a cadet suffers injury or death, the service looks after the victim and NOK.

Based on this, Gen Surjit and I put forward a proposal to Army HQ Pay Commission Cell. They did consider it but watered it down to some allowance. And they decided to continue the system of keeping cadets as civilians. The watered down proposal was accepted by the Pay Commission. Since then, officer cadets have been getting some income.

Surprisingly, the Commandants of the academies did not like the idea of their cadets getting some money in their hands. They impounded it and released it only on commissioning. I don’t know the latest situation.

No surprise that, when a cadet gets injured or killed, there are also sorts of petitions to treat the victim “humanely and as a special case.”

By: Lt Gen Raj K Mehta

Lt Gen Raj K Mehta — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 13:06:27 +0000

Nice to hear from you after a long time Sir. Hope you and the family are doing well.
Wishing you and all your loved ones a very Happy Diwali.
Regards and best wishes,
Raj

By: M K Agarwal

M K Agarwal — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 13:04:15 +0000

Dear Gen. Surjit,

I have read with great interest the paper by Gen. Aggarwal. It was, indeed, heroic to fight a sustained battle with the entrenched bureaucracy to achieve the objective. It is only in India that the armed forces and the technocrats have to face the kind of subservience which the system imposes on them. May I tell you that in Haryana there are about 30 Additional Chief Secretaries (all in the pay scale of Chief Secretary) and the tribe is ever on the increase, but so very difficult to get sanction of 1 additional post of Chief Engineer (equivalent to JS in GOI).

Thanks and best wishes,

M.K. Agarwal
Engineer-in-Chief (retd.),
Haryana PWD (B&R)

By: Lt Gen Vinay Shankar

Lt Gen Vinay Shankar — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 13:02:11 +0000

Dear Surjit

Thanks
Informative
Your territory !!

Warm Regards
Best wishes
Vinay

By: Maj Gen Sudhir Vombatkere

Maj Gen Sudhir Vombatkere — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 13:00:22 +0000

Dear Surjit-Sir,

Thanks for the link. Will read.

Good to see that you remain active and busy in a good cause.

Regards.

Sudhir Vombatkere

By: Surjit

Surjit — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 12:55:45 +0000

Kapil
I strongly believe that you are the best person to write a paper on ‘civil-military relations. ‘ As of now, there is a trust deficit, and this chasm needs to be narrowed. After all, we are all working for the same purpose. Do give it a thought.
The paper has been well received. The feedback is positive.
Happy Deepawali to you and your family.
Surjit