NEW DELHI: The trend among armed forces officers and defence scientists seeking voluntary retirement is on the rise, the Lok Sabha was told on Thursday. Over the years, more personnel are being discharged from service on account of mental disorders, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said in written responses to queries.

As many as 1,275 officers from the Army, the Air Force and the Navy wanted to quit service last year against 996 in 2005 and 435 in 2004. The trend had been steadily rising in the Army and the Navy while it had shown a dip last year in the case of the Air Force.

In the Army, the largest service, 811 officers sought to quit the uniform last year and more than half of them were allowed to leave.

While most naval officers were permitted to quit the service last year, the Air Force denied permission to 127 of the 207 officers to do so.

Over 1,000 Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientists quit in the past five years. The attrition rate was "marginally higher" compared to the private sector and there was no substantial impact on the completion of DRDO projects, the Government said, explaining the exit of 1,007 scientists between 2002 and 2006.

The DRDO submitted a proposal to the Government to arrest the exodus of scientists and cast the net wider for fresh recruits by conducting campus interviews and undertaking an image-building exercise.

The number of personnel discharged due to mental disorders, including cases of psychosis, neurosis, alcohol dependence and depression, was also increasing.

Last year 558 personnel were told to quit the armed forces on these grounds compared to 451 in 2005 and 406 in 2004.

The Army, being involved in high-tension, counter-insurgency operations, had the most number of personnel boarded out on grounds of mental illness followed by the Air Force and the Navy.

Main reasons

The main reasons for the officers seeking premature retirement were supersession, being placed in a permanently low medical category, taking care of family and increase in job opportunities in the civilian sector. The Government had responded by allowing time-bound promotions to the rank of Colonel, undertaking a massive marriage accommodation project and arranging professional courses for superannuating officers, Mr. Antony said.

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