"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others"
-George Orwell
A unique investigation is underway by the Ministry of Defence regarding misuse of CSD smart cards by senior retired officers of the Army.
As per the information relayed, data is being collected on the gross misuse of gold cards which are allotted to retired Chief of Army Staff along with the officers of the rank of Army Commanders. The investigation by MoD has revealed that some senior retired officers are in possession of more than one smart card. These Gold cards entitle them to unlimited purchase through CSD.
It is learnt that the Army HQs too is seized of the matter and it is being ascertained as to how more than one such card was issued in first place and where and at which CSD canteen were these being used. It is learnt that very heavy purchases were being effected by these cards every month and that this has raised eyebrows.
The fact that retired service chiefs names have also surfaced in the course of the digging up of data, has left the Army HQs a but surprised.
However, all those who may jump to conclusions and start pointing accusatory fingers at the retired brass of the rank of Army Commanders and COAS, there are a few good men left still. The MoD has found that there are many officers who chose not to avail the facility of unlimited purchase given by the Gold Card. I have been able to find out the names of two such individuals who has chosen to surrender their Gold cards and have asked that they be provided the normal purchase power as due to their rank.
My sources inform me that two such officers are Lt Gen HS Panag (retd), former Northern and Central Army Commander and Lt Gen AK Singh (retd) who has recently retired from service as Southern Army Commander.
Individuals like these deserve to be saluted for their honest and upright approach. Equally, one would like the names of those to be made public, those who have more than one privelege card and have been making purchases worth an atrocious sums of money. Normally the Army would very easily deny that any such thing has happened. However, since the investigation is being done by the MoD, there is slim chance of the Army spin dims getting a chance of cover-up.
All such mindless cards should be immediately withdrawn and only the purchase limit authorised by rank should be put into effect. There should not be any silly limitless purchase power because it lends itself to misuse and this is precisely what has been happening.
The Ministry of Defence will do well to institute corrective action and immediately withdraw or cancel the Gold Cards.
It is a poor reflection of falling moral standards the part of senior officers for which Armed Forces Officers are famous as a class to boast of. Those who indulged in the alleged malpractice, if any, have done disservice to the nation and brought bad name to the Officers as a class, whether retired or in service. The Investigation Report should be put in public domain as and when completed and submitted and names of black sheep be made public. They don't deserve salute. It is evidence of greed and progressive deterioration of moral standards. Imagine what they would have done while in service? Bureaucrats wait in the wings for such news to beat the Armed Forces with a hunter. Now they got an opportunity. No wonder even a Section Officer of Min of Def does not respect a General Cadre Officer. It is a time for introspection and take stern remedial measures to restore our lost respect. HUM KYA THHE KYA HO GAYE AUR KYA HONGE ABHI, AAO MIL BAITH SOCHEN SABHI. COL SK AGGARWAL, ADVOCATE, E-9/504/GH NO. 79. SECTOR-20 PANCHKULA HARYANA 134116 MOB. 09815558983
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing to discuss on this subject except for the MOD to take immediate action to cancel all the Golden Card issued till date and stop issuing the Golden Card to any member on this earth.
ReplyDeleteAll our good work / deeds over the last 66years is brought to nought by scams of this kind. This must be exposed again like ADARSH SCAM in Mumbai. ALL OF THEM , TOP TO BOTTOM, need to be listed publicly and their canteen priviliges suspended for a decade or more. This is NOT ACCEPTABLE behaviour.ALL these GOLD CARDS must be withdrawn forthwith. As veterans they must live within their pensions or face censure by law of the land. Enough is enough.
ReplyDeleteSomething has gone wrong somewhere. An officer is selected into service after a rigorous selection process and thereafter monitored through the appraisal system for his integrity. If so many senior officers are getting involved in scams that means the moral fiber of the services have broken and like minded people who believe in corruption are being propagated ahead in the higher ranks. If chiefs are involved we can estimate the level to which we have dropped. How do expect to get respect from the civilians, in a few days services will be rated below even the police in its corruption practices. We need to learn from the IAS/ IPS they treat all class I/ Grade A officers equally, while it is only in services (like politics in India) we worship the senior in the hierarchy. Services have actually become like the congress party.
ReplyDeleteagree 100%.
ReplyDeletea lt-gen (retd) gets 14 units of alcohol every month which is a shade under half a bottle of booze every day. Damn good going I would say for a 60 yr old if he manages to go thru that in a month( even factoring the odd buddy/ junior officer dropping in for a couple of drinks once in a while) .
So whats the point of giving retd COAS'S and army commander's any more ?