AN EYE OPENING INTERVIEW         

OF 

ONE OF THE CREATORS OF 7th CPC

Samuel's Take :

The bias of Mr Vivek Rae, a retired IAS officer and a member of the 7th CPC, is evident from his following dissent note :

Vivek Rae, used the dissent note to state : 
"It is clear, that the matter regarding the edge of the IAS over the other All India and Group 'A' Services, has been deliberated at length by the Central Pay Commissions over the last six decades and also by the Honourable Supreme Court. There have been repeated endorsements about the IAS being the premier civil service in the Country, flowing from its unique role and responsibilities. There cannot be an iota of doubt in this matter.

No new factors have emerged for the 7th CPC to conclude that the edge enjoyed by the IAS should be removed and the IPS and the IFS (Forest) brought on par with the IAS. The objective reality in fact, points in the opposite direction. It may be noted that the financial edge enjoyed by the IAS over the OPS and IFS (Forest), is essentially at the State and field levels. State CMs are key stakeholders who need to be consulted for taking a well considered view in the matter. No such consultation has been held by the 7th CPC with the political leadership at the State level".

The interview is reproduced as received. I cannot vouchsafe for the correctness of the contents. Even if untrue, the fact that it is doing the rounds in Defence circuits, shows the prevailing sentiments in the Defence Forces.

Extracts of an interview of Mr Vivek Rae, IAS, (member 7th pay) commission to economic times.(an eye opener for armed forces).

Q.       There has been a growing expectation from 

            armed forces as regards the pay commission?

Ans.   No, you see the govts may promise anything; 

            but its the bureaucracy who play with the 

            numbers. We know how to manage the 

            statistics and we would continue to do so.

Q.       Dont you think that  armed forces have  been 

            growing far more vocal for their privileges ?

Ans.   No you see, in a democracy; the order of 

            priority  will always be judiciary followed by 

            bureaucracy and then these security guys. If 

            you see,  a brigadier of army can not even 

            order to open a fire unless cleared by a 

            district magistrate of 8 years of service. So 

            where does the question of parity exist.

Q.       So are you also looking at cutting down some 

           of their colonial privileges ?

Ans.  Ya not even that. I am preparing a report 

           where I am suggesting that 20% houses of 

           army in prime cantonments such as delhi , 

           pune etc should be allotted to civil officers. We 

           have already cut down  on their rations, 

           electricity. In fact we want to recommend that 

           all army facilities like sports infrastructure 

           pools, clubs, golf courses and messes are not 

           exclusive property of army and should be 

           shared by all civil officers also. 

Q.      But there has been a growing sentiment for                    army from all quarters?

Ans.  But country doesn't run on sentiments. It runs 

           on ground realities. And the reality is, that 

           today, a SI of police in Agra or Patna has more 

           influence and power than a Major General of  

           the Army. So we have to see who  are the 

           deliverables on ground and compensate them  

           accordingly.