More delay in OROP as panel gets six-month extension

The tenure of the committee formed on the implementation of the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme has been extended by six months till the middle of December this year. The government had recently amended the gazette notification issued last year, under which the committee headed by former Chief Justice of Patna high court Justice (Retd) L Narasimha Reddy was scheduled to submit its report by June 14. 

With the extension, the implementation of OROP may take more time as the panel is likely to submit its report by December 14, official sources said.

The government had announced the implementation of OROP on November 7, 2015, to benefit over 25 lakh ex-servicemen and war widows. The OROP mandates payment of uniform pension to the armed forces personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, regardless of their date of retirement, which implies that bridging the gap between the rate of pension of current and past pensioners at periodic intervals.

The other Terms of Reference of the Committee will continue which include measures for the removal of anomalies that may arise in the implementation of the OROP as notified by the government. The panel is also looking into the measures for the removal of anomalies that may arise out of inter-services issues of the three forces due to implementation of OROP besides implications on service matters. The Committee is examining all other matter referred to it by the central government on implementation of the OROP or related issues.