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SHOCKING INCIDENCE OF ILLEGAL APPOINTMENT OF A RETIRED OFFICE (SH. HARBANS SINGH OF THE CENTRAL SECRETARIAT SERVICE) FOR FIGHTING CASES AGAINST MILITARY PENSIONERS, DISABLED SOLDIERS AND WIDOWS BY DEPARTMENT OF EX-SERVICEMEN WELFARE AND THAT TOO BY PLUNDERING ARMED FORCES FLAG DAY (AFFD) FUND
Dear Sirs/Ma'ams,
1. Time and again various military veterans and ex-servicemen organisations have pointed out to you the acute anti-military sentiment prevalent in the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW) which not only is an impediment in promulgation of positive policies for the military community but is also playing a damaging and sadistic role by misleading senior Defence Ministry Officers and the Defence Minister by making them feel as if defence veterans are greedy and do not deserve what they have been repeatedly asking for. The problem remains that there are some officers who have engrained and ensconced themselves in the department forcing the competent authorities to take lopsided view of all issues that are put up to them. Most of such officers are unnecessarily tagging along with DESW despite the fact that they have crossed the limits prescribed by the Rotational Transfer Policy. All Secretaries also unnecessarily unduly depend upon such officers for inputs leading to negative suggestions and
ultimately wrong decisions.
2. A few months ago, we had pointed out how a mere Under Secretary, one Ms Malathi Narayanan, had written to us asking us to 'desist' from taking up issues of military welfare and that our communications were clogging the department. As expected, no action was taken by you against the said officer. The language of the letter itself provided ample proof of the insensitivity and arrogance of DESW officers. This is in contrast to the Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare (DoPPW) on the civil side which is duly sensitive to the needs and requirements of pensioners and retired employees, more so because they themselves are affected and understand the problems whereas in the DESW the negative emotion of "US versus THEM" is unfortunately paramount for most of such officers and stakeholders are not even a part of the decision making process.
3. Now comes the most shocking incident which just cannot be ignored by us- *about one Mr Harbans Singh, an officer of the Central Secretariat Service (CSS) who has remained in the Ministry of Defence since 2003*. Most of the disputes and anomalies of pensionary provisions have arisen during his tenure and his anti-military veteran views are well known in ex-servicemen circles. Shockingly, after he retired as Joint Secretary (in situ) Pensions, DESW in 2011, he has been illegally re-employed in the Ministry of Defence to fight court cases involving pension and disability pension against soldiers. All files are put up through him and he has also been representing the Ministry of Defence as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in various meetings held with various departments. While he is known to be negative to the cause of military veterans, he is still made a part of all official processes and meetings.
*4. It has however now appallingly come to notice that the officer has been re-employed to fight court cases against soldiers and disabled soldiers and is being paid salary out of Armed Forces Flag Day (AFDD) Fund which is ironically meant for the welfare of widows of martyrs and disabled soldiers*. Moreover, he has been employed on the strength of the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) on non-govt contractual employment terms but is actually functioning as OSD in DESW/MoD and is also attending all official processes and marking notes on files. He has also been provided with a Staff Car and is being paid a salary of Rs 60,000 per month out of AFFD fund and has also been granted an extension till January 2014. No advertisement was issued before reemploying him and his reemployment is also in contravention of DoPT Guidelines on reemployment of retired officers as consultants.
*5. In view of the above, we call upon you to immediately relieve and discharge the above mentioned officer and answer the following queries on his appointment :-*
(a) Under which moral or legal authority has Sh Harbans Singh been appointed as OSD in DESW of MoD to fight cases against pension related litigation of soldiers and disabled/war disabled soldiers and that too by funding his appointment from Armed Forces Flag Day (AFFD) Fund which is ironically meant for welfare of widows of martyrs and disabled/war disabled soldiers?
(b) Under which rule can AFFD funds be used to re-employ a person for fighting against those very military veterans and soldiers for whom AFFD is meant for?
(c) How can a person who has been employed as a non-govt contractual employee of KSB be allowed to actually function as OSD in DESW of MoD?
(d) Under which rule can a non-govt contractual employee of KSB be allowed to sign on, make notes and peruse files of pension related cases of the Government?
(e) Under which rule can a non-govt contractual employee of KSB be allowed to fight cases against defence pensioners in various courts on behalf of MoD/UOI/Govt?
(f) Under which rule can a non-govt contractual employee of KSB be allowed to represent the DESW/MoD in various meetings with various departments?
(g) How was this retired officer re-employed without issuing any advertisement and against DoPT guidelines?
(h) Under which rule has the officer been provided with a Staff Car?
(i) How was Sh Harbans Singh allowed to remain in the MoD from 2003 till his retirement in 2011 and then till date in total contravention of the Rotational Transfer Policy? Why are other CSS officers being allowed to continue in DESW against the said Transfer Policy?
6. We once again request you to kindly take immediate action on the above, otherwise we shall be forced to bring to light his appointment and the functioning of DESW before the appropriate forum/body.
Yours Sincerely,
Jai Hind
*Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Offg Chairman Indian Ex Servicemen Movement
Mobile: 9312404269, 0124-411057
Dear Sirs/Ma'ams,
1. Time and again various military veterans and ex-servicemen organisations have pointed out to you the acute anti-military sentiment prevalent in the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW) which not only is an impediment in promulgation of positive policies for the military community but is also playing a damaging and sadistic role by misleading senior Defence Ministry Officers and the Defence Minister by making them feel as if defence veterans are greedy and do not deserve what they have been repeatedly asking for. The problem remains that there are some officers who have engrained and ensconced themselves in the department forcing the competent authorities to take lopsided view of all issues that are put up to them. Most of such officers are unnecessarily tagging along with DESW despite the fact that they have crossed the limits prescribed by the Rotational Transfer Policy. All Secretaries also unnecessarily unduly depend upon such officers for inputs leading to negative suggestions and
ultimately wrong decisions.
2. A few months ago, we had pointed out how a mere Under Secretary, one Ms Malathi Narayanan, had written to us asking us to 'desist' from taking up issues of military welfare and that our communications were clogging the department. As expected, no action was taken by you against the said officer. The language of the letter itself provided ample proof of the insensitivity and arrogance of DESW officers. This is in contrast to the Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare (DoPPW) on the civil side which is duly sensitive to the needs and requirements of pensioners and retired employees, more so because they themselves are affected and understand the problems whereas in the DESW the negative emotion of "US versus THEM" is unfortunately paramount for most of such officers and stakeholders are not even a part of the decision making process.
3. Now comes the most shocking incident which just cannot be ignored by us- *about one Mr Harbans Singh, an officer of the Central Secretariat Service (CSS) who has remained in the Ministry of Defence since 2003*. Most of the disputes and anomalies of pensionary provisions have arisen during his tenure and his anti-military veteran views are well known in ex-servicemen circles. Shockingly, after he retired as Joint Secretary (in situ) Pensions, DESW in 2011, he has been illegally re-employed in the Ministry of Defence to fight court cases involving pension and disability pension against soldiers. All files are put up through him and he has also been representing the Ministry of Defence as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in various meetings held with various departments. While he is known to be negative to the cause of military veterans, he is still made a part of all official processes and meetings.
*4. It has however now appallingly come to notice that the officer has been re-employed to fight court cases against soldiers and disabled soldiers and is being paid salary out of Armed Forces Flag Day (AFDD) Fund which is ironically meant for the welfare of widows of martyrs and disabled soldiers*. Moreover, he has been employed on the strength of the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) on non-govt contractual employment terms but is actually functioning as OSD in DESW/MoD and is also attending all official processes and marking notes on files. He has also been provided with a Staff Car and is being paid a salary of Rs 60,000 per month out of AFFD fund and has also been granted an extension till January 2014. No advertisement was issued before reemploying him and his reemployment is also in contravention of DoPT Guidelines on reemployment of retired officers as consultants.
*5. In view of the above, we call upon you to immediately relieve and discharge the above mentioned officer and answer the following queries on his appointment :-*
(a) Under which moral or legal authority has Sh Harbans Singh been appointed as OSD in DESW of MoD to fight cases against pension related litigation of soldiers and disabled/war disabled soldiers and that too by funding his appointment from Armed Forces Flag Day (AFFD) Fund which is ironically meant for welfare of widows of martyrs and disabled/war disabled soldiers?
(b) Under which rule can AFFD funds be used to re-employ a person for fighting against those very military veterans and soldiers for whom AFFD is meant for?
(c) How can a person who has been employed as a non-govt contractual employee of KSB be allowed to actually function as OSD in DESW of MoD?
(d) Under which rule can a non-govt contractual employee of KSB be allowed to sign on, make notes and peruse files of pension related cases of the Government?
(e) Under which rule can a non-govt contractual employee of KSB be allowed to fight cases against defence pensioners in various courts on behalf of MoD/UOI/Govt?
(f) Under which rule can a non-govt contractual employee of KSB be allowed to represent the DESW/MoD in various meetings with various departments?
(g) How was this retired officer re-employed without issuing any advertisement and against DoPT guidelines?
(h) Under which rule has the officer been provided with a Staff Car?
(i) How was Sh Harbans Singh allowed to remain in the MoD from 2003 till his retirement in 2011 and then till date in total contravention of the Rotational Transfer Policy? Why are other CSS officers being allowed to continue in DESW against the said Transfer Policy?
6. We once again request you to kindly take immediate action on the above, otherwise we shall be forced to bring to light his appointment and the functioning of DESW before the appropriate forum/body.
Yours Sincerely,
Jai Hind
*Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Offg Chairman Indian Ex Servicemen Movement
Mobile: 9312404269, 0124-411057
