We have briefly covered Shri G.N. Sridharan in our earlier
post.
- His contention was that right from Day One, that is 12th 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.
Employees' Unions do not normally worry about the amounts to be expended to implement various benefit schemes to employees. But here there is a mention about Rs.1600 crores to be deposited (Supreme Court has since clarified this point and revised the amount to be deposited.) "If one raises a query where this money come from (Rs.1600 crores), people brush aside the point and state that it is not our concern and it is for LIC to find ways... we need to ponder over how LIC will take this demand..." says Shri Sridharan.
This worry, where this money come from etc., has unfortunately resulted in the accusation that Shri Sridharan is playing into the hands of LIC and acting on LIC's behalf.
.