Chandigarh Contempt Case

The so called brilliant arguments of Mr. Sreenivasa Murty came to nought as the case now stands where it was before. Still I see MSM and B.R. Mehta patting each others back and blaming Mr. Asthana for whatever is not happening. Mr. MVV has rightly brought out in his communication addressed to Mr. Asthana the negative pulls exerted by Panchkula people.

The Panchakula Unit people were so mean as to demand (they got Rs. 1,50,000 refund also from AIRIEF ) refund of the legal fund contribution made to AIRIEF. Their request for contribution from AIRIEF for continuing their legal battle is more deplorable since they don't see eye eye with the AIRIEF leaders. Now that all the 3 cases are taken up together at the Supreme Court, LIC Pensioners need not bother about what the Panchkula Unit does or does not. The result would be the same even if M. L. Gandhi's case is contested or not, since the Chandigarh H. C. Judgement is entirely based on Jaipur Case judgement.

It is essential that AIRIEF get themselves pleaded as a party in this case, since LIC management and the GOI seem hell bent on not according the benefits of any positive judgements in favour of the Pensioners in rem. (Whether the Court will allow that at this stage is uncertain.) It is now clear as sky that even if a favourable judgement is delivered by S.C.the benefits of it will remain a far cry for the Pensioners. The need of the hour is not the unity of 3 LIC pensioner litigants, but unity of Pensioners of all the industries and service organisations at large and a full throated political support for our demands. The need of the hour should be in the direction of creating public awareness for OROP.

B.S. HEGDE