Manekshaw Richer by Rs 1.16cr, Handed Over Backwages

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

New Delhi, Apr 18 (UNI) Undergoing treatment at a Military Hospital, Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw today got a booster of a different kind -- he became richer by more than Rs 1.16 crore.

Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt handed over a cheque of backwages amounting to over Rs 1.16 crore to the Field Marshal at the Military Hospital in Wellington.

The payment was in connection with the Government decision -- announced yesterday -- that officers holding honorary ranks of Field Marshal of the Army and Marshal of the Air Force would now be entitled to enhanced salary and emoluments in keeping with the rare honour attached to these ranks.

In the case of Field Marshal Manekshaw, these backwages will be effective from January 1, 1973 -- the date he took up the Field Marshal rank.

According to an official spokesperson here, the Field Marshal -- after receiving the backwages-cheque -- asked Defence Secretary Dutt whether there would be any imposition of tax on his new salary structure.

To this the Defence Secretary replied that ''if at all tax has to be imposed, it will be at the minimum''.

Secretary Dutt also conveyed greetings from President -- and Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces -- APJ Abdul Kalam and handed over a message from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The Government had yesterday announced that officers holding the honorary ranks of Field Marshal of the Army and Marshal of the Air Force would be entitled to ''an upgraded pay and emoluments package along with certain other facilities in keeping with the rare honour attached to these ranks''.

The upgraded package would be effective from the date of these offficers holding these ranks.

With this decision, Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw and Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh became entitled to the same scale of pay as a Chief of the Service -- along with a Special Pay.

Residential accommodation -- or House Rent Allowance in lieu -- and Leave Travel Concession would also be admissible to both the dignitaries as per rules applicable to the Chief of the Service.

Other facilities such as Staff Officer, a nominated Staff Car, Medical facilities, and an official Hospitality allowance would also be made available.

The dignitaries would also be extended the status of State Guest on visit to any state.

Field Marshal Manekshaw was conferred the honorary rank on January 1, 1973. He retired a fortnight later, on January 15, after completing nearly four decades of military service.

Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh retired from active service -- as the first Air Chief Marshal of the Indian Air Force -- in August 1969. He thereafter accepted Ambassadorship to Switzerland.

Subsequently, in recognition of his services, the Government conferred the rank of the Marshal of the Air Force onto him in January 2002 making him the first and the only 'Five Star' rank officer with the IAF.

UNI

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