(a) whether the Government have laid down rational and logical equivalence between service and civilian officers of MES on the lines of equivalence already laid down for similar other organisations such as AFHQ Services, Ordnance etc. under his Ministry;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) if not, the time by which the Government intends to lay down the above equivalence to remove discrimination against the civilian employees of MES?
MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI GEORGE FERNANDES)
(a) to (c): Military Engineering Service (MES) is a well established organization with a well laid down MES establishment which gives the appointment and equivalence between Service and Civilian Officers of MES. Nonetheless, in order to rationalize the equivalence of MES civilians vis-Ã -vis army personnel, Army HQs have been asked to examine the issue at greater depth. However, no time frame has been fixed for the same.