Col Karnick8217;s case helps others

MUMBAI, SEPTEMBER 5: The fallout of the Col Mahesh Karnick case 8212; where the officer8217;s rent for a separate family accommodation was being recovered from his salary 8212; has benefitted all similarly placed officials throughout the country.

The President has recently given assent to a decision of the armed forces to grant separate family accommodation to 30 stations in the country, for officers who did not get official accommodation. These areas include Pune and Mumbai. In a letter from the office of the Quarter Master General8217;s branch, the President8217;s decision was conveyed to the officials.

Col Karnick, who was posted in the border, had moved the Bombay High Court when his salary for the months of May and June was being withheld by the authorities towards recovery of the rent reimbursements made to him for a flat in Santacruz for his family since 1995. The argument of the authorities was that the SFA facility was available only to Delhi.

However, the petition was disposed off when the court directed thesalaries be paid, and a statement was made by the additional solicitor general D Y Chandrachud who said the ministry of defence had been advised to do away with this discrimination.