PUNJAB AND HARYANA COURT JUDGMENT IN LINE WITH JAIPUR BENCH JUDGMENT.

CWP No.16346 of 2010.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT
CHANDIGARH
*****
CWP No.16346 of 2010 Madan Lal Gandhi and other. . . .Petitioners
Versus
Union of India and others . . . . Respondents
*****
Date of Decision: 09.11.201

CORAM: HON’BLE MR.JUSTICE A.K. SIKRI, CHIEF JUSTICE, HON’BLE MR.JUSTICE RAKESH KUMAR JAIN
*****
Present: Ms.Alka Chatrath, Advocate, for the petitioners.
Mr.Tarun Singla, Advocate, for respondent No.1.
Mr.B.R. Mahajan, Advocate, for respondents No.2 to 4.
*****
RAKESH KUMAR JAIN, J.
The petitioners are all retired Class I officers of Life Insurance Corporation of India (for short ‘the Corporation’), who have challenged the discrimination against employees retired between 1.1.1986 and 1.8.1997 while framing Rules with regard to grant of Dearness Relief to pensioners at par with in-service employees, up-gradation of pension and have prayed for issuance of a writ in the nature of certiorari for quashing order dated 3.6.2010 rejecting the claim of the petitioners for removal of anomaly in the matter of rate of Dearness Relief to the pensioners and Dearness Allowance to serving employees on the same amount of pension/salary and up-gradation of pension on pay revision and further prayed for
issuance of writ in the nature of mandamus to implement the decision passed by the Corporation in its meeting of the Board of Directors dated 24.11.2001 and also for issuance of direction by way of mandamus for striking down the words “as on 1.8.1997” in clause (3) of Section 1 “Short title, commencement and application” in the notification dated 22.6.2000 and words “as on 1.8.2002” in Notification dated 5.9.2005 with consequential effects and for issuance of direction to fix pension of the petitioners as per the substituted scales of pay equivalent to the stage applicable to them in the
scrapped pay scale as on the date of their retirement and pay, pension at the rate of 50% of such basic pay as arrived at on and from 1.8.1997 and thereafter on and from 1.8.2002 with all consequential benefits with 12% interest. The petitioners have given a note in the index of the writ petition that a similar case i.e. CWP No.654 of 2007 titled as Krishna Murari Lal Asthana Vs. LIC of India and others was allowed by the Rajasthan High Court directing the respondent-Corporation to take a decision for implementation of the Resolution dated 24.11.2001 passed by the Board holding that the Corporation cannot provide different criteria for grant of Dearness Allowance to the existing pensioners
based on cut off date i.e. 31.7.1997 and as such, the benefit arising out of the directions above would, however, be considered by the Corporation so that every retired employee may get the same benefit.

OBSERVANCE OF DHARNA ON 5TH NOVEMBER 2012..

The observance of Dharna on 5^th November 2012 by insurance persioners has been a splendid success. Reports pour in about the enthusiastic participation of LIC pensioners in their thousands in the Dharnas held across the country demonstrating once again their determination that they will brook no further delay in realizing their genuine and reasonable demands.

In Chennai, the Dharna was inaugurated by Com. N.M. Sundaram.  Similarly Com. J. Gurumurthy, Secetary, Standing Committee, General Insurance, addressed GIC pensioners before United India Head Office.  In Bangaluru, Com. Amanulla Khan, President AIIEA inaugurated the Dharna.  Com. Natarajan also addressed the meeting.

Similar reports are coming from all parts of the country.  In the meetings prominent AIIEA and AIIPA leaders addressed Dharnas held in front of LIC Divisional Offices.

In Calicut Com. M. Kunhikrishnan, Vice-President, AIIEA inaugurated  Dharna held in front of Kozhikode Divisional Office.

SHRI M. KUNHIKRISHNAN, VICE PRESIDENT, AIIEA
ADDRESSING THE INSURANCE PENSIONERS
AT CALICUT.

CHANDIGARH CASE, 'GNS', 'LICPENSIONERSCALICUT'......

 

 

I HAVE JUST COME TO KNOW FROM SHRI SN CHHABRA

THAT THE WRIT PETITIONS FILED IN CHANDIGARH HC

HAVE BEEN ALLOWED ON 9TH OF THIS MONTH

ACCEPTING MAINLY THE ARGUMENTS IN THE JUDGMENT

IN THE CASE OF KRISHNA MURARI LAL ASTHANA VS UOI

AND OTHERS.

THE SAME RELIEFS HAVE BEEN GRANTED. DETAILS

AWAITED.

- KML ASTHANA

N. M. SUNDARAM

“Mr. Narasimhan is an honest and straight forward gentleman!” said Shri N.M. Sundaram, General Secretary, AIIEA during an interview he had given me for my journal ‘Initiative’ in the early Nineties.  He made these comments about the Chairman of LIC of India not as an answer to a question.  It was an off the record comment after the actual interview was over. 

Journalists sometimes waited for such remarks.  Such important comments may come during an interview.   It may even come while packing off after the interview.  Or any time.....  One has to wait !

Employees and their organizations are supposed to fight with each other.  An employees’ association leader may not make such comments about the Chairman of the organization.  But Shri Sundaram did say and  I published these remarks. 

When I showed the copy of ‘Initiative’ to some of the union leaders at Calicut, they frowned at me.  Same thing happened in Chennai too.  Finally I didn’t meet Shri Sundaram in Chennai but passed on the copy of ‘Initiative’ to a union functionary there.

When Shri Sundaram came to Calicut after a few months, I talked to him about this news item. 

“What of that”, Shri Sundaram said.  It appeared he didn’t think I had done any wrong to him.  He stood by his comments.

That was Shri Sundaram.   I enjoyed the nobility of this gentleman Shri N.M. Sundaram!.

'RECEIVED' RS.42/- FROM LIC OF INDIA.

               P.G. Gangadharan                

 pggangadharan@hotmail.com

The Central Office of LIC had invited me to visit 'Yogakshema' and I was their guest there for about a week's time.  I was treated so well.  In fact I felt I was honoured in all respects. 

I hasten to add here the other side of the picture.  Soon after my return from Corporate Office of LIC in Mumbai, I received the order showing that my tour to Mumbai has been treated as tour and on-duty.  Accordingly I was asked to submit my bills for the same.  But I did not submit the bills.  Sometimes I have taken the stand that I do not require any monetary benefits at all for my work.  I have spent thousands of Rupees in LIC to demonstrate that it is possible to bring about improvement in its working with the willing participation of employees.  I was never offered any benefit.  It was also not my expectation to receive any benefit at all.




CALICUT - MUMBAI PASSENGER TRAIN !

When I completed a project I received from Shri N.N. Joshi, Chief General Manager,LIC Housing Finance Limited to study the working private housing finance companies, he had asked me to submit my bills.  Then also I had declined his offer saying that the fact that I was entrusted with such a job was itself a reward for me!

SHRI GN SRIDHARAN RETORTS (POST 2)

We have briefly covered Shri G.N. Sridharan in our earlier post. 

• His contention was that right from Day One, that is 12^th January 2010, attempts have been made to make pensioners believe that a torrential rain of benefits was round the corner to drench the pensioners.  It is a cold fact that nothing of that sort had happened during nearly three years.

It was in January 2010, the single judge in Rajasthan HC allowed WP holding that it was not necessary for Government to approve LIC’s Resolution.  The Union of India chose not to stress on the statutory powers they have under section 48(2) to notify any changes in the emoluments of employees, which include pensioners….

Now the SLP has come up before the Supreme Court. Shri Sridharan says, “ the main focus of SLPs relates to the powers of Government under Sec.48 (power to notify) and the main ground taken by LIC is that the decision of the High Court is contrary to law as it stands.  It is a matter of guess  how the SC would ignore or view the fact that similar provisions, in different forms, exist in statutes relevant to other public sector financial institutions and make an exception in the case of LIC alone.”

Examining the implications of LIC Board Resolution dated 24-11-2001, Shri Sridharan states: "we are deeply worried (at the stand taken by LIC) and hence we were cautioning

even an year back to think of strategy to overcome this stand but nothing could be or was done towards the same."

"Unfortunately our Federation's offer to be a part of the legal proceedings was not favoured for reasons unknown but our intended moves were vociferously opposed.  People seem to have believed that none else must attempt to do anything to safeguard the interests of pensioners....", Shri Sridharan has explained further.

SHRI GN SRIDHARAN RETORTS....

DIFFERENT organisations have different view points and strategies.  Maligning at personal level, instead of a healthy debate, is not democratic, says GN Sridharan, General Secretary, Federation of Retd. LIC Class I Officers' Associations.

"Many opinions had come out time to time in the form of legal analysis although these probably reflected their wishful thoughts.  With no one being able to predict the outcome (of the legal battle),  retirees were led to believe that release of a big money is at the threshold.  Victory signs were loud and many pensioners have entertained sky-high hopes....

"It is good to be optimistic in life but it is also necessary to be prudent to guard against entertaining unrealistic expectations."

Stating that "efforts must be made to resolve all issues" Shri Sridharan says: "we should not bank on judiciary in entirety" which, he says, is AIIPA model .

Then he goes on to examine the implications of LIC Board Resolution, power of Government to notify etc. and adds ...

....Evidently they are in desperate search of an alibi or scapegoat for their failure to clinch convincing results to the personers' community so far or in the near future.  It is anybody's guess what will happen or whether anything worthwhile will happen at all. These quarters must understand that they are not the sole caretakers and guardians of retired employees community.

Every organisation has its own right and strategy to follow.  We are also for pensioners' benefits only...

Shri Sridharan asks: "what is the hidden agenda?  The allegation that we are playing into the hands of LIC management is nothing but blabbery".   "......I beseech you to ponder over what could be personal agenda that I can design or even think of, except retired officers' interest in general....".

(SHRI SRIDHARAN MAY SEND US ANY ADDITION, IF HE SO THINKS, SINCE HIS STATEMENT IS 'HEAVILY' EDITED.  WE ALSO INVITE SHRI R.B. KISHORE OR ANYBODY OF HIS EMINENCE TO JOIN THE ISSUE.  BOTH THE STATEMENTS WILL BE PUBLISHED WITHOUT ANY EDIT AT ALL. Readers may also send us their comments.  -Editor)

D.S. NARAIN

                                                                                                                   

Sometimes I have wondered  why do I mention the names of certain dignitaries, persons who held high rank or positions in LIC or outside.  I have a reason to do so.  Reason is simple.   I am making these references for the reason that these posts titled “My LIC days” have an autobiographical touch about the same.  Therefore my mention of certain names in an unfavourable light too in a couple of posts in this blog earlier has been done only to make certain honest statements. 

I had a long association with *Shri B.R. Sethi, Zonal Manager.   But I missed  Shri D.S. Narain.  Shri D.S. Narain was an efficient Manager in charge of Southern Zone.  He was feared, revered and respected. 

Shri Narain's P.A. once telephoned me from Chennai to say that Shri Narain would allot a couple of hours to me when he visited Calicut “next time” – a meeting  that never took place.    I still feel it would have been a meaningful meeting but I missed the opportunity.

* will be covered in a post later.

TRANSFER ISSUE AGAIN...

 IT IS TIME, we look at this Supreme Court Judgment in
IA No.9 in TP(C) No. 56 of 2007 (Rank Pay Case)
which says....



" On a thoughtful consideration of the entire matter, we

direct that the interest shall be paid by the petitioners to the

respondents @ 6% from 1-2-2006. 


It is clarified that this order shall govern all similarly situated

officers who have not approached the court and all those

who have filed writ petitions which are pending before

various High Courts. "



 
When court proceedings so far has gone very much in favour of the plaintiff and the SLP hearing is only a matter of weeks away, shouldn't commonsense prevail....... 

Is it necessary to get the cases pending in other courts transferred to the SC.... 

Should we not wait for the result of SLP as it would apply to all those CWPs pending in various HCs......

- ASKS SHRI R.K. VISWANATHAN.

SHRI G.N. SRIDHARAN WANTS TO JOIN THE ISSUE.

Dear Shri. Gangadharan,

Thanks for your mails.  I have been extremely
preoccupied with the final hearing of a writ
pettition of 2002 in Madras High court since
last 2days. Hence I could not respond
immdtly.

Kindly bear with me for a couple of days to revert
to you.

Regards.

GN Sridharan

My LIC days

G. CHIDAMBAR

1. "Methods" and 2. "Own Your Home Scheme Administration"
 were two books I had published. 
 "Methods" was totally a research work. 


 

            P.G. Gangadharan              

pggangadharan@hotmail.com

 

 

Here's a book containing more than  250 pages.  It is titled 'Methods'.  It is simply a research work in the area of O. and M.  It was my humble contribution to the organisation.  And it was done entirely at my cost.  I spent several thousands of Rupees for this work.   My family members suffered because I spent  many months in my study for this work. 

 

This book was originally submitted to Shri G. Chidambar who was then Managing Director while he was attending the Annual Conference of the Insurance Institute of India at Panaji, Gao.

 

Later I received an invitation to visit LIC's Central Office in Mumbai.   My suggestion for a new Proposal form was accepted by Central Office during this visit (will be discussed in another post).  At the end, Secretary, MS Department asked me to move to Central Office.  And when I expressed my difficulties to move to Mumbai, he said, "whenever you feel like coming to Mumbai, you just give me a ring!"

 

Shri G. Chidambar did not speak much.  But it was at his instance that I received the invitation to visit Central Office of the Corporation which was an unusual experience for an employee. 


I remember Shri Chidambar with gratitude.

 

 

.

 

OBITUARY

SHRI T.THOMAS (76) formerly Marketing Manager
Kozhikode Division expired. Our hearty condolences
to the bereaved family. 

GN SRIDHARAN'S MOVE BEING DISCUSSED!

HERE'RE TWO VIEWS

whether the transfer application
of Shri GN Sridharan's writ
petition will affect the SLP
pending in Supreme
Court......

"I have information from Shri C.H. Mahadevan of Hyderabad that he
has contacted Justice Rangarajan of AP High Court and discussed
about the transfer application of GNS

.....as to what impact it will have on the SLP which is pending
disposal in SC.....

His opinion is that it will not interfere with the SLP and
would perhaps hasten its hearing."

- R.K. VISWANATHAN

 

I agree, nothing is going to adversely affect our case with the mere transfer.  But the

 

background cannot be lost sight of.  Once the cases are transferred, then only application for

 

clubbing the same with the SLP will be moved.  -  KML Asthana.

 

 

'LIC PENSIONERS CALICUT' COMPLETES ONE YEAR !

My LIC days

G.N. BAJPAI

 

 

                         P.G. Gangadharan                        

pggangadharan@hotmail.com

 

 

Shri G.N. Bajpai was Executive Director (Publicity) and Editor of  'Yogakshema' when I first met him.  He was Chairman, LIC thereafter.  He was later elevated to the post of  Chairman, SEBI. 

 

Every time I wrote letters to him, I received his prompt replies. I was more comfortable with him through the letters we exchanged.  But when I met him, he did not speak much.  That disappointed me.

 

But I acknowledge I received a lot of encouragement from 'Yogakshema',which is LIC's  prestigious publication.  I am not able to recollect the names of all those persons who were in 'Yogakshema' those days.  I remember Shri M.S. Menon, Dy. Secretary in the Publicity Department.  He was always solidly behind me.  Shri K. Kadiresan was also there.

 

I put this brief note only to disclose one fact - something which has always disturbed my mind.  Shri Bajpai who was Editor, 'Yogakshema' had informed me through a letter Shri M.S. Menon had written to me that he was prepared to come down to Calicut to release the first issue of 'Initiative'.  But I was a little more ambitious and wanted that it should be released by the Chairman himself.  In fact I wanted that it should be released by Shri M.G. Diwan.  But Shri Diwan was not available as he was away on a short visit to the States. 

Shri Bajpai was a noble gentleman and  he promptly arranged the 'Initiative' to be released by Shri Narasimhan, who became LIC Chairman later.

Between the lines you know  the wrong I committed.  I regret.  And deeply so.

 

 .

A WAR OF WORDS.....

 EVEN before the final fight in the Suprem Court, fight outside the court is intensifying. There is a war of words.  All those involved think that they are acting in the best interests of the pensioners. 

Those watching this scene can come out with their comments. Selected comments will be published here.  You can send anonymous comments too. 

 

LETTERS GALORE...

Dear Shri Sridharan
Dear Shri Sridharan
Dear Shri Sridharan

ONLY COMPLAINTS, NO COMPLIMENTS...

"Please desist from implead move and save the pensioners"

" Please desist from implead move and save the pensioners!"
seems to be the slogan of a section of the pensioners these days. 

They want that Shri Sridharan should abandon his idea of getting
transferred his petition to the Supreme Court.  He should desist
from implead move. 

A number of letters have been written to Shri Sridharan. 
One such letter from Shri H.K. Aggarwal is reproduced.

 

Dear Shri Sridharan,

While I fully agree with you that “Every organisation has its own right and strategy to follow”, at the same time there is no need to smell malign in mails, and as I feel the observations or fears expressed in such mails are not without reason.

On one side one fails to understand why such actions are thought of when there is some positive development in the SC on petitions already decided in favour of the pensioners. On the other hand instead of hailing the victory so far, irony is very negative views are aired - to site your words "Whether they like it or not, we only, in our legitimate rights, seek speedy disposal of our own petitions on which the pending SLPs in the SC unfortunately applied brakes."  While the fact (on record ) is that in Delhi High Court for years together only adjournments were sought for reasons better known to the counsels in this particular case where the legitimate right to seek speedy disposal was not invoked.

Dear Sir, you being a senior advocate are fully aware that SLPs in SC are in the final stage of a litigation and once these are taken up, we are sanguine, these will be dismissed and the pensioners will get justice which has been delayed unfortunately.

All HAVE LEGITIMATE AND LEGAL RIGHT TO SEEK SPEEDY DISPOSAL, BUT HAS TO ACT PRUDENTLY KEEPING ASIDE THE EGOS. PARAMOUNT NEED IS WELLFARE OF ALL PENSIONERS IRRESPECTIVE OF CLASS OR CADRE.

 

With best wishes & regards.

 -HK Aggarwal

 (At the moment, we do not have the copy of the letter of Shri Sridharan.  We are therefore unable to reproduce the same for the information of our readers.  We are committed to place different views through this blog.)

 KML ASTHANA UNLEASHES A SCATHING ATTACK ON GN SRIDHARAN

In a statement issued by Shri Asthana, he has made a scornful attack and also made disparaging remarks about Shri GN Sridharan.   Shri Asthana said that “it is a very sorry state of affairs that Shri GN Sridharan is acting on the part of LIC and still claiming to be a friend of pensioners.”

Shri Asthana adds, “it is to be seen that in Shri Sridharan’s writ petitions, he is claiming only 72% of DA whereas in our case, we have “achieved” 100% of DA.  Not only this, in case he tries for impleadment, it will raise several new issues and bring us to the bottom of the game.

Shri Ashthana also expresses his apprehension that Shri Sridharan’s claim of “early decision of his writ petitions by filing transfer petitions in the SC is “nothing but ridiculous”.

Answering the allegation that Shri Sridharan’s petition is being delayed due to the petitions filed by Shri Asthana, Shri Asthana makes it clear that he has “obtained five judgments in a span of two years”, but Shri Sridharan could not get even a single petition decided by the court.

”It is also to be seen whether by transfer of the out-of-date and redundant writ petitions Shri Sridharan could get the matter expedited when there is no prayer for revision from time to time.

“There is no substance in his pleas and the fact remains that he is not acting” in the best interests of Pensioners", Shri Asthana alleged.

 .

My LIC days

N.N. JOSHI



 crucial help from Shri Joshi when I needed it most... 

                     P.G.Gangadharan                         
pggangadharan@hotmail.com
 

If I send in a slip seeking an appointment with Shri Joshi, soon will come his reply “Let us meet at … “.

Every time I met him, I felt more and more inclined towards him.  He always motivated me to do something  –  something more and something different than the contribution of an average employee. 

Excellent relations with Sri Joshi...
Thank you, sir.

When I first met him, he was Chief General Manager,  LICHFL.  He was Chief (Personnel) at the Central Office for a brief period.   Later he became Zonal Manager at Kanpur.  Then he returned to Mumbai as Zonal Manager, Western Zone.  And I maintained very warm and personal relations with him all these years.  People sometimes have asked me how I happened to know Shri Joshi who has never worked in the Southern Zone.    I have no answer.

There was a particular charm I noticed in his personality.  I always loved to meet him.  And he, on his part, was always willing to help me too.  More than words, real help came from Shri Joshi.  I owe a lot to him.

.

 

 

LICPENSIONERSCALICUT

 

WISHES

 

YOU

 

A

 

VERY

 

HAPPY

 

 

D   I   W   A   L   I

 

.

 

 

 

NOW

 

TOUCHING

 

 

 

 

 

 

'licpensionerscalicut'

maintains

its

lead

as the most popular online diary in India.

 

Thank you.

 

 

...rushing to have a glance!



My LIC days

 

V. NARAYANAN

 

 

 

 

 

 

___________P.G. Gangadharan_________

                                 pggangadharan@hotmail.com                                  

 

 

I got the appointment to meet Shri MG Diwan, Chairman in his chamber in 'Yogakshema' at about 8 pm.  I believe Shri NN Joshi was also there.  This appointment paved the way for a long time relationship with both of them in later years.

 

Shri Diwan agreed that he would attend the meeting I had promised to arrange at CALICUT.  The idea was that such a meeting should enable a platform for the management and the employees unions to express and air their views on the need for 'change' in LIC.  Shri Diwan had promised to attend this important meeting.  I was asked to approach his PS with details of the programme and obtain the date. 

 

I reached Calicut and had detailed discussion with unions and the Insurance Institute of India under whose auspices the meeting was to be conducted.  There was discussion with the SDM and the office bearers of the local Insurance Institute.

 

When Shri Narayanan, SDM met Shri Diwan in the All India Divisional Managers Conference held in Mumbai, he invited and Shri Diwan agreed to come to Calicut.  An official programme to inaugurate the Branch No.2 of Kannur in the north Malabar was also decided.  But the Chairman's PS told Shri Narayanan that Chairman would inaugurate the Branch Office only when he came to Calicut to attend the proposed meeting of LIC management and the employees unions. 

 

Shri Narayanan did not have the imagination to realise that such an important and epoch- making meeting was possible. Suffice it to say that he could not rise to the occasion and lend a helping hand to the employees in the matter..... (details avoided).

Finally, when he approached the PS for the visit of Chairman only to inaugurate Kannur Branch No.2, the request was turned down.  The meeting of the management and the employees' unions did not take place.  And believe it or not, Kannur Br.2 of Kozhikode Division was never inaugurated !

My LIC days

A.R. MENON



 

MANAGEMENT AND THE UNIONS WIN !




 

___________P.G. Gangadharan_________
pggangadharan@hotmail.com

SHRI NN JOSHI, Chief (Personnel) was always kind towards me.  When he was Chief General Manager, LIC Housing Finance Ltd., he had given me a project to make research on how other housing finance companies worked.  The other project was to talk to Shri NM Sundaram, General Secretary, AIIEA and report to him.

While talking to Shri Sundaram, he made a casual mention about a problem relating to Mysore Divisional Office which was at that time housed in two buildings on two sides of a road.  Shri Sundaram told me that he was going to write to the Chairman.

Next day I just rang up Shri AR Menon who was Senior Divisional Manager of Mysore Division at that time and enquired what exactly was the problem.

While I still do not know the details of the issue relating to the Divisional Office being housed in two buildings opposite to each other on two sides of a road, the obstacle that stood as a stumbling block and prevented smooth relations between the management and the employees was immediately solved by Shri Menon. 

Perhaps there was no need for Shri Sundaram to write a letter to the Chairman or for the Chairman to intervene !

 

 (READERS MAY CONTRIBUTE BRIEF ARTICLES BASED ON THEIR SERVICE EXPERIENCE. 
 Articles may be sent to:  licpensionerscalicut@hotmail.com  )

.

 

Editorial

Forget you not,
this is our policy!

 

Of late, I have been receiving very encouraging response from LIC pensioners belonging to various parts of the country.  They have really applauded the idea of having an independent online diary covering varying views.

For an year now, I am covering news dear to the pensioners.  Pensioners want it straight from the horse mouth.  They want it fast.  They want it with all vivid details.  And towards this end, I am making serious and sincere efforts.  Slowly but surely we are achieving success in this matter.

You have gone through various pages of this Diary.  And while doing so, you must be convinced that we are covering news in an impartial way.  I am basically a journalist.  I have interviewed prominent management experts in the country.  I have interviewed Prof. Ishwar Dayal.  I have interviewed Shri Diwan when he was Chairman, LIC of India.  In his own handwriting he used to write letters to me in Inland letter cards.  It was an unusual thing for a LIC Chairman to do. 

Then I interviewed Managing Directors, Directors, Zonal Managers, great Union leaders like Shri NM Sundaram and Shri AV Nachane.  I had only one passion while doing so.  It was that I should do my job of bringing together the management and the employees together for bringing about ‘change’ in LIC. 

There was a Chief (Personnel) Shri NN Joshi who told me once, rather complained to me that Shri N.M. Sundaram was not talking to him.  And he wanted that I should meet Shri Sundaram and find out the reason for it.  I went to Chennai and stayed there for a couple of days sleeping on a sofa, braving sultry weather and mosquitoes of the T-Nagar Guest House.  Finally I sent a report to Shri Joshi.  Whether or not such liaison work had any effect at all, the fact remained that I received such assignments those days.  While I met and worked with great management experts and leaders, I had occasion to ignore one Shri MS Natarajan in the far south who boasted, there were a few letters after his name.  Shri Diwan advised me to ignore such insignificant persons and go ahead and added that he himself had faced such problems during his service career in the Corporation.

Having retired from active service, I am continuing my job of doing something useful to my fellow pensioners.  I do belong to one pensioners association.  But I believe, basically I am a journalist and I am duty-bound to cover all views of all persons irrespective of the unions to which they might belong for the time being.

I assure you, this is my policy.   

 

 

Editor