Parrikar promises to address anomalies in military ranks

Defence minister orders inquiry into elevation of civilian officers

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday said he had ordered an inquiry to ascertain if a letter sent from his office on the equivalence of ranks of armed forces vis-a-vis civilian counterparts was done erroneously.

Parrikar told reporters in Delhi that he had asked for details of the letter which was issued on October 18 laying down new rank-equivalence norms.

The letter elevates civilian officers in comparison to their military counterparts. It says a principal director with the Armed Forces Civil Services, who was equivalent to a brigadier, will now be of the same rank as a major general.

A director-rank officer, who used to be of the level of a colonel, will be equated with a brigadier. A joint director will be of the same rank as a colonel, instead of lieutenant colonel. Defence officials said the letter represents a downgrade of the forces, for whom rank signifies honour and respect.

Parrikar said if an error had occurred, it would be corrected within a week. He said similar letters from the years 2005 and 2008 would be studied.

“The government is sensitive to issues concerning the serving and retired soldiers. I have asked for the exact status. I will see if I find any reduction in functional responsibility...this is not status...some people are trying to misguide. They will be on the same platform as earlier,” he said.

Former army chief V P Malik said, “Status and functional responsibility go hand in hand. How can you separate them?” He also said it is a “deliberate mischief” after the Seventh Pay Commission recommendation.

Gen Malik said, “The armed forces are very, very sensitive about their status and social standing...I do not know why somebody thought of disturbing the status at a time when the whole world is praising the armed forces’ action after Uri attack. A letter like this affects morale.”