The Defence Ministry will conduct a detailed review of the parity of status issue between the Armed Forces officers and the civilian counterparts in the backdrop of the Services unhappy over a recent circular by the Ministry reportedly downgrading their status vis-à-vis civilians. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is also likely to set up a panel for the review as it is pending for last many years.
This development on Friday came about a day after the Defence Ministry clarified on Thursday it had not down graded the status of the Armed Forces officers. This clarification was in response to reports that the October 18 order of the Ministry had changed the equivalence factor in the Armed Forces Headquarters where civil and military officers work together.
Hinting that Parrikar was keen to address the issue which had created a flutter amongst the Services, sources said here on Friday, the Ministry will take a holistic view before coming to a final decision. They also hinted that Parrikar will set up a three-member committee to advise the ministry and resolve the rank parity issue.
The panel was likely to give its opinion within ten days, they said adding the team will review all the previous orders in this regard issued 1992, 2003, 2005 and a Cabinet decision in 2009. The decision was taken following a report by the Group of Ministers(GOM) in 2009 which laid down the norms for parity in the Services Headquarters.
Earlier, a Major General was on a par with a Joint Secretary. However, the October 18 circular said a Major General will be equivalent to Principal Director in the Services Headquarters and same equivalence was applicable to all the junior ranks be it the Armed Forces or the civilians. This was viewed by the Armed Forces as downgrading of their status.
The Defence Ministry in its justification for the October 18 circular said on Thursday "the present reiteration of rank equivalence is only for matters of assigning duties and functional responsibilities." The Ministry also referred to similar circulars issued in 1992, 2003 and 2005.