According to the Indian Army’s proposal, the new form would balance the aspirations of non-empanelled officers with organisational interests.
New Delhi: The Indian Army has proposed a new, separate appraisal form for lieutenant colonel-rank officers not promoted as colonels – a move officers have labelled “discriminatory” and “illegal”.
Critics allege the proposal, mooted by the Signals Directorate of the Indian Army at the Army commanders conference last month, qualifies as “double punishment” for officers who may have missed empanelment for reasons beyond their control, like the lack of vacancies.
The Military Secretary (MS) branch has sought, by 16 November, comments from the headquarters of all Army commands on the requirement of a separate confidential report (CR) form for non-empanelled officers, and the suggested CR format for non-empanelled officers.
So far, the appraisal forms for officers getting promoted from the rank of major to lieutenant colonel and then to colonel were the same. There is a different appraisal form for colonels getting promoted to the rank of brigadier.
Army sources said the rationale behind the new form is to determine who among the non-empanelled officers were still motivated to work hard.
“Non-empanelment is demotivating for several officers,” an Indian Army source said, “So this new form would segregate the lieutenant colonel rank officers who will continue to work effectively from those who won’t,” an Army source said.
According to the proposal, the new form would balance the aspirations of the officers with the organisational interests of the Army.
It states that the basis for CRs on non-empanelled officers needs to be reviewed to serve the intended purpose, which is not “promotability” but to sustain their motivation and contributions.
‘Humiliating’
The move has not gone down well within the Army and has drawn widespread criticism from serving and retired Army officers.
In a letter to the 10 corps headquarters, a lieutenant colonel has called the proposed appraisal process “humiliating and illegal”, saying it cannot be accepted.
In the letter, Lt Colonel Samiran Roy said even a court of law didn’t punish a criminal twice for the same offence. But the new appraisal process, he added, will punish multiple times and on multiple grounds a non-empanelled officer who missed his promotion because of limited vacancies, and not incompetence.
He added that a non-empanelled officer should be automatically eligible for a few basic things, such as time-scale promotions, study leaves, postings at A/B class cities and re-employment, while the proposal would leave them at the mercy of their bosses.
“Now, he has to prove himself every year to his boss about his worthiness, even for these things,” the letter states.
At the fag-end of the service, a non-empanelled officer will not only have to perform, but also please his boss, who will be a couple of years junior to him in service at the time, the letter states.
Roy added that he respected officers who had earned the “red tabs”, but requested them not to “step on the shoulders of others… who are already trampled, to prove their worth and innovativeness”.
“…The word ‘org interest’ is used (rather misused) by [a] few officers to deprive the people who have hardly any aspiration left in service,” it states.
Another Army officer told ThePrint that if the proposal is confirmed, it will give a lot of power to immediate bosses, even on aspects like postings and study leaves.
“The same officers can’t be punished for not making it up in the limited vacancies in the top hierarchy of the Army,” the officer said, “It is like creating another class between officers and a rift among them.”
“As it is, there are differences between the different arms of the Indian Army and the services in terms of vacancies in promotions,” the officer added, “This will create a further rift and may also increase instances of graft and inducements to get recommendations for study leave, better postings.”
“…This proposal has created deep anger among non-empanelled officers,” he added.
This report has been updated with a different strap.
We need to remember that in India recruitment to all public services including the armed forces and police is voluntary.
Indian army……. The perfect way to spoil my own life and the life of spouse who for no fault of theirs volunteered for this life of sacrifice.
It is heartening to see that the army is trying to address the issues pertaining to employability of the NE officers, but the way it is going about it questions the sincerity behind it.
First, the point regarding the belief that NE refers to Lt Cols only. An emphatic NO to this flawed assumption. An officer starts through the journey of selection boards at the rank of Lt Col and the process continues right till Lt Gen. In successive boards the officers not making it to the next rank are NE in the board.
The way it is being projected to be handled for the rank of Lt Col is outrageous, discriminatory and humiliated in its conception and likely implementation.
How come aspects like choice postings or postings to a Class A/B city is impacted by the non empanelment only at SB No 3? How come the motivation levels of NE officers suddenly drops down only at the rank of Lt Col? Even study leave grant would be discretionary and subject to the pleasure of an officer holding higher rank but actually who is junior to NE officer.
It seems that the higher authorities in armed forces are themselves not clear on the calibre of its own officers. Before SB No 3 an officer is highly motivated and an asset to the organisation but after non empanelment he is suddenly demotivated and a liability? Furthermore the reason for NE as often cited including justifying OROP & NFU is non avalavailabi of vacancies and not the calibre of officers.
If that is the thought process of the army regarding the motivation levels of a NE officer at the rank of Lt Col, why not provide him with an easy exit route out of the forces. As it is the empanelled officers, by the same logic are upcoming and even more motivated and would certainly be able to take on additional responsibilities.
It seems that the calibre of the rising officers of the rank of Colonel and above is what seems the issue. First, it took such a long time for the army top brass to acknowledge the ibid problem and now the solutions being looked at is likely to result in further degradation of services on the whole, create additional rifts in the ranks. Incidentally the army is trying to fight wars within between arms and services, with the bureaucracy, with political bosses, with certain veteran’s groups and also with Pakistan & China. Is it possible for the army to open another front within?
A very retrograde step. It’s this mentality of the senior lot that has the forces to this state. A demoralised and ineffective force will serve no one. This is but an effective step in that direction. There are many other methods of maintaining motivation of officers. This my way or highway free hand to the bosses will encourage nepotism and sycophancy. The main issue in armed forces is the extreme nature of this malaise. The only countervailing force was the superseded officers who had the gumption to question wrong decisions. Otherwise the highly regimented and disciplined lifestyle of the forces doesn’t foster a culture of critical thinking which is highly essential in today’s world. This critical input available from the superceded lot, hasn’t been understood by the bosses who have invariably risen on the ability to snuggle up to their higher ups. Hope sense prevails!!!!
This is just a proposal, one among many which keep floating around every year in a large organisation like Indian Army with more than a million soldiers. It’s purely an internal oganisational matter of the Army without any impact whatsoever any where else. You might have some one in your team connected to some body serving in Army, but does it mean that you keep publishing such stories with out any serious thought . Another classic example of yours in the same category was the story on impact of Supreme Court’s order on Section 377. The judgement was delivered on 06 September 2018 and there was this big article very next day (07 September 2018) ‘analysing’ impact of this decision on Indian Army. A humble appeal to all at The Print -Kindly take up some other issues which are of more national importance than an ‘internal memo’ of an organisation not meant for people outside it. I am sure you all too must be having such memos in your organisation. How would you feel if they are leaked out ? Please Sir, a responsible and mature set up and have some mercy on poor soldiers. Kindly let them do their job.