§ Lieut.-Colonel HURSTasked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that all British non-commissioned officers of the Indian Army departments are required to sign Indian Army Form U. 1,746 on promotion to warrant rank; whether he is aware that such Army form is so expressed as to bind the warrant officer to serve for life however many years he may have already served; and whether, having regard to the hardship involved, he will consider whether the Army form in question can be modified and any modifications made to operate retrospectively?
768W
§ Mr. MONTAGUI have not a copy of the Indian Army form referred to, but I understand that, on promotion to warrant rank in an Indian Department, a soldier undertakes to continue to serve "until legally discharged." I see no hardship in this. The indefinite obligation is similar to that undertaken by an officer on accepting a commission. Definite rules are, of course, laid down in Indian Army Regulations regarding length of service qualifying for pension and age for compulsory retirement of departmental warrant officers. In normal circumstances there is no difficulty in obtaining permission to retire from the Service. During the War it has, of course, been necessary to suspend retirements of departmental warrant officers as of officers.