AFT okays NFU for military officers

Bringing cheer to the military fraternity, the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) today ruled in favour of a petition demanding non-functional upgradation (NFU) for defence officers on the pattern of civil services officers of Group 'A' services.
The NFU entitles an IAS and other Group 'A' services officers to get the pay scale of the highest promoted officer of their batch even if he or she is not promoted to the same rank.
The aim of giving NFU is to alleviate the stagnation in the service due to non-promotion.
However, it was not applicable to the military officers who have a pyramidal system of promotion.

The principal bench of AFT here, comprising officiating chairperson Justice B P Katakey and Lt Gen Sanjiv Langer, delivered the judgement.
A senior lawyer said that the petition had sought NFU similar to the one given to their civilian counterpart as per by the 6th Pay Commission.
The judgement says that if NFU is implemented for civilians in 7th Pay Commission, then it will also be given to armed forces officers.
It also said NFU would be applicable also to those who are not part of the petitioners.