The edge of the Lt Col in the entry level basic pay as well as the top end was maintained till 5th Pay Commission.
However the 6th Pay Commission nullified this edge of the Lt Col and gave a lower grade pay (& hence status) to a Lt Col. Lt Col was given grade pay of Rs 8000 and the Director got Rs 8700.
Seeing the basic payscales of the 3rd, 4th and the 5th CPCs, a higher grade pay of Rs 8900 was due to the
Lt Col. But the same was not agreed by the Committee headed by Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, now the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
7th pay Commission has made things even worse for the Lt Col. Not only his status (level 12A versus 13) has been lowered but his basic pay at both the entry point (lower end) and the upper end have been lowered.
The basic payscale of Lt Col needs to be reworked keeping his edge at the entry level point as well as the top end.
Also Lt Col needs to be placed at level 13A, higher than the Director who has been placed at level 13.
