Seeking to play down the controversy generated by the refusal by Defence services chiefs to implement the Pay Commission scales, Defence Minister A K Antony on Wednesday asked the media not to 'read too much' into the issue.

He said the services chiefs had 'noted some problems and anomalies' in the government order on pay hike which was 'natural' and the issue was being examined at an appropriate level.

"There is no difference between the government and the services, because they are also part of the government. Don't read too much," Antony told reporters here on the sidelines of the Defence Accounts Day function in New Delhi.

His comment came in the wake of a signal by the Army and Naval headquarters to their 1.5 million personnel on the 'anomalies' in the Pay Commission, asking them to 'be patient in the larger interest of the Services.'

• Pay panel: All about the revised pay scales

This was seen as an act of defiance of the Cabinet decision to implement revised pay scales from September 1, after which Antony was reported to have expressed his displeasure to the services chiefs.

Pointing out that Cabinet had taken a decision to implement the Pay Commission report after amendments, Antony said afterwards, "the services chiefs noted some of the problems and anomalies, specifically regarding the Defence forces, which is but natural."

The government is examining it at the 'appropriate level,' Antony said as he noted that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has formed a committee headed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to look into the issue.

"Meanwhile, you are reading too much. It is not correct. . . There is no problem. As far as we are concerned, there is no difference," he added.

Pointing out that the armed forces had already submitted the details for revised pay scales, the defence minister said the government had issued a notification for paying ad hoc arrears to the personnel, due to the delay in calculating their revised pay for October.

The additional burden on the exchequer due to the changes in the approved CPC is Rs 6,000 crore (Rs 60 billion).

The defence forces had initially decided not to accept the "discriminatory" Pay Commission recommendations.

The government acted swiftly, forming the three-member ministerial committee headed by Mukherjee to look into the issue and Antony doing some tough talking to the Services' chiefs, asking them to accept the revised pay scales temporarily.

Moreover, the government ordered release of an interim amount as part payment of the 40 per cent arrears under the Pay Commission to be given to the defence personnel this week to enable them to celebrate Diwali. The rest of the 40 per cent arrears would be paid to the services in November.

The reason cited for the ad hoc arrears was the delay caused due to the late submission of the revised pay vouchers by the armed forces.

Consequently, the 3.5 million civilian government servants would take home their revised pay and the 40 per cent arrears under the CPC, while the defence personnel would have to wait till November for their revised salaries.

• Pay panel: All about the revised pay scales