One-Member Panel to Study OROP, Veterans Unhappy
NEW DELHI: The government appointed a one-member judicial committee to look into the implementation of the 'One Rank One Pension' (OROP) scheme for ex-servicemen.
Ex-servicemen agitating on the OROP issue, however, rejected the committee and said they may approach the court over anomalies in OROP.
The committee would look into steps to be taken to remove anomalies arising out of the implementation of OROP, as notified by the government on November 7, an official statement said.
The committee comprising L. Narasimha Reddy, a retired chief justice of the Patna High Court, would take into account the financial impact of its recommendations before spelling out the same within six months.
"We do not accept this committee in the first place. We may have to exercise the option of going to court," Col. Anil Kaul (retd), spokesperson of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement, told IANS.
"The way forward is to approach the Supreme Court, which would be taken procedurally as per the advise of our counsel Ram Jethmalani very shortly. Notwithstanding the legal option the agitation will be intensified across the country," he said.
The veterans felt that the committee was a way to brush the issue under the carpet.
"All OROP anomalies can be resolved by the government itself. A committee is not needed. You form committees only when you want to push a matter further," he said.
He said a meeting of the IESM governing body may be called in a couple of days to discuss the issue.
The veterans have maintained that the OROP scheme announced by the government was flawed.
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