2 yrs ,75 proposals of defence panel, only one implemented

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 20

Over two years after a committee of experts had suggested far-reaching measures to reduce litigation in the Ministry of Defence and strengthen the mechanism for redressing grievances of defence personnel, only one out of 75 recommendations has been implemented.

Sixteen recommendations have been accepted for implementation and another 16 have been accepted in-principle, according to information placed before Parliament by the Defence Ministry during the ongoing session. “The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare has implemented one recommendation out of 16 accepted for implementation,” the ministry’s said.

The five-member committee, convened by then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had submitted its 509-page report in November 2015. In August 2016, the Defence Minister issued orders that action be taken on the recommendations within 45 days.

Sources said the accepted recommendations include abrogation of sudden changes in policy and fresh polices to be introduced after discussions with stakeholders, mandatory time-bound response to veterans’ grievances, high-level study group for recommending legislative changes in military law, restoration of medical facilities to short-service officers, not filing appeals on issues that have already been decided by high courts and the Supreme Court and all administrative orders to be speaking orders.

Other accepted recommendations are that issues related to women officers be decide in consultation with the stakeholders, including women representatives, and review of the system to grant maintenance allowance to wives.