1. The President extended a very warm welcome to all Ladies and Gentlemen present, at the AGM of the Delhi Charter. He said that the last AGM was held in Feb 2008 and therefore, this AGM was being held as per schedule. He further said he was happy to see the large gathering present, and therefore, it was presumed that the required forum for the AGM was complete.

2. He remarked that some of you may be wondering why this AGM is being held at the VCNS`s residence. Well, honestly where can you ever find more beautiful and picturesque surroundings than this. Our most sincere and grateful thanks to Admiral Suthan and Mrs. Bina Suthan for allowing us to hold this function here this evening.

3. Homage:- At the outset, the Present requested all present to kindly rise and observe two minutes silence in memory of some of our colleagues who have left for heavenly abode during the last year. These include : Rear Admiral RC Bhalla, Commodore MML Saxena, Commander SK Kulshestra, Vice Adm RB Suri, Commander DC Joshi, Commander HS Karanjawala Commander Amol Chitnis, Lt Cdr BD Jain, Commodore ANP Pillai, Lt Cdr AK Pal, Rear Admiral SS Khanna, Commander KC Tandon, Mrs. Dhanam Katari, Commander N Radhakrishnan, Presidents Annual Report. He said that the year 2008 had been quite eventful.

4.(a) New Members:- Through a concerted effort and because of greater reach, we have been able to add on 51 new members to the Delhi Charter in 2008 and other applications are pending, against 26 members enrolled in 2007. Thus a total of 749 members are on the rolls of the Delhi Charter. In our estimate there are over 2000 retired naval officers residing in and around Delhi and majority of these are not our members. While the management committee endeavors to make all of them members of the Delhi Charter, I urge your support in making it possible to the maximum extent.

5.(a) Fund Raising for the Delhi Charter:- I am happy to announce that a small Fund Raising campaign for the Delhi Charter was undertaken in late 2008 and we have received about Rs 2.0 Lac as donations to cover part of our annual expenditure and to add some to our corpus. Unfortunately, the ongoing economic crisis curtailed our fund raising ability. Of the funds raised this year Rs 1 Lakh was raised by Cmde VK Thakur. I can’t of course but complain that there are many well connected members amongst us but they have consciously not lent the sought support to our efforts. As raising of funds to increase our corpus is in our long term interest, please do lend a helping hand

6. Additional Support from Naval Headquarters:-. On our repeated requests and consequent discussions with VCNS/NHQ, the Navy has agreed to provide support to NFDC office for stationary and office facilities etc. This should substantially reduce our out go this year, on stationary items, etc that are essentially required for printing News Letters and other material. Further, to help the fraternity, for better connectivity, we have installed a direct Tel (23385882) in our office for incoming calls from members. Similarly, an Internet connection has also been provided in the office.

7.NRI Veterans:- Our interactions with NRI Veterans had indicated a nostalgia and hunger for information on their friends and colleagues in India and on the goings on in the Navy. In order to bring such Veterans on board we have decided to issue an Email News Letter for their benefit. The first such News Letter will be issued by end Feb. We have received some email IDs from NAs, from NHQ and from some members. I am aware that many of us are in touch with several friends but have received IDs in single digits. We will appreciate if all members can forward all email IDs of any NRI veterans known to them to us.

8. Formation of Veteran Sailors Forum :- At our AGM last year, the issue of inducting retired sailors in the Navy Foundation was discussed extensively. The general consensus was against any move to make them members. Later, the Navy has formed a Veteran Sailors Forum, which is functioning under the aegis of the Naval Headquarters. They have three Command Charters.

9. Award of Revised Pension:- We are all fully aware of the 6th PC recommendations and some government orders have been issued whist others are pending. Certain issues are still under consideration by the Govt. The Banks have the relevant Orders so we must ensure that we get the correct amounts due to us. We have done our best to keep you informed of the Pay Commission and other happenings on a day to day basis and I think we have succeeded to a great extent. I, however, feel that those not on emails necessarily cannot be updated that often and would like to advise those of our members who are not computer savvy, to make arrangements with their friends, family and children to receive our emails. I may also mention that as an austerity measure we have stopped the distribution of hard copies of our mail through Couriers to those members whose email IDs are with us and in case some of you still need hard copies please advise the Secretary or the Secretariat and who will do the needful.

10. AGM of Navy Foundation (all Charters):-The AGM of the Navy Foundation was held on 23 Nov 2008 at Mumbai. Besides the routine issues; specific concerns relating to expansion and improvement in ECHS facilities were discussed. The CNS informed that a comprehensive plan has been submitted to MOD for approval. A brief on this AGM and the ECHS has already been forwarded to all members with the last News Letter. There was general consensus that by and large the ECHS scheme is functioning well and important improvements to its delivery and reach are underway but much remains to be done.

11. Membership of CGOMA:- .We had been interacting with the CGHQ for almost a year, for them to set up an Institute on their land with help from NHQ and NFDC. CGHQ, however, decided to set up a Kotah House type of facility and give limited number of memberships to retired Naval officers. This facility should be a boon to our members residing in Noida. Details have been forwarded to all our members.

12.Get-togethers over Lunch:-These were held, generally once every three months. These are indeed popular as our members attend in good numbers. ITEM No III:- . These were held, generally once every three months. These are indeed popular as our members attend in good numbers.

13. Admiral RD Katari, Memorial Lecture:- This was arranged on 10 Dec 2008 and the Speaker was Dr Shashi Tharoor. The event was a great success with the Speaker making it an event to remember. I am happy to announce and I am indeed thankful to our members that the attendance this year was overwhelming. We regret that some of our elderly members had to be seated on the Balcony of the auditorium. There is also perhaps a lesson to be learnt here, that it is better to get outside speakers with an open approach, than much listened and weather beaten speakers with a defence or security background and whose views are well known and have been heard by us on many occasions. such cases pending in various Courts and requested for an update. The President assured that an authentic update will be provided in the next few days through our News Letter.

14.Special Dinner Hosted by CNS:- The CNS hosted a Dinner in honor of Dr Tharoor, on completion of the Katari memorial Lecture. A large number of members of the Delhi Charter were amongst the invitees. This was also the 50th year of Adm Katari taking over as the first Naval Chief and in his memory, a Photo Exhibition was also held at the Dinner venue, which also happened to be the VCNS`s residence and this very Lawn.

15.Annual Golf Match with the Serving:- This has not been scheduled as yet by NHQ due to some administrative problems.

16.Delhi Charter Members Directory:- The Members Directory has been updated as of Jan 2009, and the new edition, Feb 2009 Issue is ready for distribution. (Note Has since been issued)This has not been scheduled as yet by NHQ due to some administrative problems.

17.Pay Fixation of Officers:- . The case regarding anomaly in fixation of Pay Consequent to 4th PC, in the Maj Dandapalans case is being pursued by the Retired Defense Officers Forum (RDOF) in Delhi Court. The cause has been supported by the NFDC and is one of the litigants in this case. A number of other cases for the same redressal have been filed by other Veterans in various High Courts in the country. On a request from MOD, the Supreme Court had directed that all such cases be transferred to the Supreme Court and consolidated. There has been some delay in consolidation and this case should be heard by the SC by mid 2009.

18.ECHS Membership Contribution:- The Supreme Court had ruled that Defence personnel, who retired before 01 Jan 1996, should not be asked by the Govt to pay any contribution for becoming a member of the ECHS. MOD had filed a revision petition in the Supreme Court and the Court has declined to order refund to those who had already made such payments and the issue of refund is therefore closed.This has not been scheduled as yet by NHQ due to some administrative problems.

19.Legal Recourse for OROP:-As you are probably aware that the Maj Generals in the Case of Maj Gen Vains have all but won their case for One Rank One Pension (OROP), though not expressly stated in those words, by the Supreme Court. As expected, the MOD has requested for a review and the same is now pending. This appeal will almost surely be dismissed in the near future and MOD will have to take a call on the way ahead. (Note. The appeal was dismissed by the SC)

20. A brief on the Legal issues as far as our prayers before the SC for OROP is concerned has been forwarded to all members and I trust that you all have read the same and if there are any views, we can discuss them when we take up the Agenda. I personally feel that we need to go ahead on priority, in filing this case in SC as this appears to be the most viable option at this stage. As our case will be going before the SC, I expect minimal delays though nothing in India or the Courts is that simple. In order to steer this case and liaise with the Lawyers and our associate Organizations, I propose to nominate Rear Adm OP Sharma and Rear Adm S Ramsay besides myself.

21. MOD had also requested for the name of naval Veteran who will liaise with MOD for satisfactorily resolving the outstanding issues flowing from 6 PC as far as we are concerned. The name of RAdm Sushil Ramsay has been forwarded for the same.

22.Management Committee:- I would also like to say that we, the members of managing Committee have done our best to bring up, revitalize and to bring the maximum number of Veterans on board and we have been most satisfied with the response and the feed back from our members. From being an entirely passive organisation, we have also taken the lead in agitating on some matters of interest to the fraternity including those regarding the 6PC and OROP in particular. There has been much effort and inputs from our side and I feel that that the current Managing Committee has done what it could and it is time for us to lay down the office, and as per the Agenda, elect a new and vibrant committee, bubbling with newer ideas and vigor. Most of us have been at the yoke from 3 to 7 years and that’s a lot to make us stale.

23.Agenda Points:- The President then requested that the Points on the Agenda be taken up.

Item I:- Confirmation of the Minutes of the last AGM. There being no issues for discussion, the Minutes were proposed by VAdm SP Govil, to be passed. The same was seconded by Cmde HS Punia.

Item IIPresentation of the last Balance Sheet for the Year 2007-2008 . There being no issues for discussion on the Balance Sheet, it was proposed by Rear Adm HC Malhotra to be passed and the same was passed. The same was seconded by Cmde H Sawhney

Item III Elections of President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. The President explained that a new Management Committee be elected in light of what he has said while covering the annual Report.The new Management team, under the President elect will, with your kind consent, take over the reins on 1 April, after the present team has steered the Foundation through the Financial Year. This will also give time to the new team to understudy and focus on the appropriate issues for a smooth transition. The existing team members, i.e., Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer have done more than their time as per the Bylaws, and will have to be replaced by a new team, which kindly permit the President elect, to choose during the next few weeks and notify to you all. (Since there have been no volunteers for consideration) ”I take it that I have the General Body's consent to this”