KOMALAN (komalack@rediffmail.com)
That was indeed a good cartoon devoid of comic characters. It was eloquent enough. It helped us ponder about our weak points. We seem to be travelling in a particular direction once again. The whole discussion is having a ‘positive’ look. It says HC will order settlement of the Rajasthan High Court judgment of Bhandari J. But the Supreme Court has not given a ‘speaking’ order. Many things could have been clearly stated. But they seem to pass the whole matter to the Rajasthan High Court. Rajasthan High Court will consider different options and pass a judgment. But the parties not in agreement with HC orders will once again go to Supreme Court for orders - something we witnessed in the case of orders stating “to the employees” later corrected as “to the writ petitioners”.
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| a cartoon indeed ! |
Certain pertinent questions were asked about amounts LIC has deposited in the Rajasthan HC. Shri Basudeb seems to have been silenced. Nobody has since come out with any answers to these questions. As interested parties, we need not look beyond our problems. But unpleasant questions must be asked. These questions must be welcomed for it enables us to go to HC after doing some home work. It is in the pensioners interest that more and more people come forward to ask more questions. When there are questions, we can search for answers too. Questions may make us more prepared to answer LIC or HC questions. Prayer gives us positive energy. With prayer alone, we don’t win a legal war.
We have lauded Shri Murty for giving us a favourable interpretation that things will turn in our favour. But he also writes "at the cost of repetition, final interpretation may have to come from the HC itself, as LIC need not be expected to gracefully accept the Court Order in letter and in spirit.
(Next) "Answer to this question (what is the relief) is all important. Without going in to details and enter in to controversies, the simplest answer should be – every officer/employee who retired in the same cadre irrespective of his/her scale of pay on the date of retirement, whether retired before 1997 or later or retired last month, should be paid the same pension.
"We should hope LIC would be gracious enough to honour the Court verdict and not act small minded and temporarily deny the benefits to its Pensioners."
Shri Sood has also lamented about the pathetic situation pensioners facing these days since the courts are delaying justice. With every Court pronouncement we “inched” nearer to victory. "LIC’s SLPs were dismissed but it was given an escape route to file fresh SLP... What prevented the Hon’ble Judges todraw final curtain over 12 year long Court Case. Should we assume that our legal system is such which delivers justice in piece-meal and that too not conclusively, asks Shri SOOD.
Shri Murty also says "We should hope LIC would be gracious enough to honour the Court verdict and not act small minded and temporarily deny the benefits to its Pensioners. What he has voiced is only a hope, nothing but a pious hope only !