Consideration on 'discrepancy' correction on parity does not arise: MoS Defence Subhash Bhamre

NEW DELHI: The government today dismissed any correction of the "discrepancy" on parity between armed forces and their civilian counterparts saying it had only reiterated the existing functional equivalence being followed at Service Headquarters.

A controversial letter issued on the subject last month had led to severe heartburn in the military.

"Government has only reiterated the existing functional equivalence being followed at Service Headquarters for matters of assigning duties and responsibilities with respect to Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service (AFHQ CS) officers posted at Service Headquarters," Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.


In reply to a question on whether the government will consider correcting discrepancy that have arisen, he said, "does not arise".

Media reports had last month said that Defence Ministry had decided to "re-look" into the issue of parity.

Sources had said all the documents concerning the issue, including the decision of the group of ministers in 2009 ratified by the Union Cabinet will be looked into.

The 2009 GoM decision and ratification by the Cabinet had corrected this anomaly but it seems it was not brought to the attention of the authorities when the decision on October 18 letter was taken and even when a re-look was taken following the uproar.

It was not clear whether the committee was set up or not.