DEMAND IMPLEMENTATION OF COURT ORDERS

The Editor,LIC Pensioners Chronicle
Calicut.

Sir, 

Those of us who have actively supported the ongoing struggle of pensioners for removal of DR anomaly and updation of pension and seek justice through Courts, were not only surprised but shocked to read circular dated 30.10.2013 issued by Sh. G.N.Sridharan after his self acclaimed “noteworthy meeting” with Shri R.K. Takru, Secretary (Financial Services), Ministry of Finance who is the top-most officer of the Banking and Insurance and is also a key member on LIC Board.

It would be pertinent to recall the contents of letter No.DO/s-11016/35/2007-Ins.III dated 24.2.2009 addressed by the then Minister of State for Finance (Expenditure, Banking & Insurance) to Dr. Subramanian Swamy which clearly outlines the stand of MOF towards our demands. A copy of the letter was sent to me by Sh. GNS informing that Dr. Swamy had written this letter at his instance ( praiseworthy effort indeed ) and followed up the matter with the PM, but nothing came out. I reproduce the entire relevant para from this letter:

• ”Insurance employees pension scheme is broadly based on the pension scheme of bank employees and since no change has taken place in the pension scheme of banks’ employees, it is felt that a change in the scheme for the insurance employees, would cause ripple effects in the banking sector and other related sectors. The employees who retired up to July 31, 1997 are being granted graded DR. To employees retiring as on or after 01.08.1997, 100% neutralization is being granted. The DR pattern adopted prior to 01.08.1997 was part of the wage revision package agreed to in consultation with the employees associations and to reopen the issue at this stage may not be appropriate.”

Again in the affidavit submitted in SC, the Under Secretary, MOF, has reiterated the above stand. Therefore, we can legitimately ask Sh. GNS as to what perceptible change he found in the stand of the MOF now. They have taken a rigid stand against us and LIC bosses will only follow their dictates. Therefore, the only course left to the pensioners is to seek justice through the Courts. Sh. GNS would have immensely served the cause of pensioners by demanding implementation of Court Orders and pointing out to the Secretary(FS) how LIC has now tried to misinterpret their own Board’s Resolution. Pensioners are feeling frustrated because of the unethical moves of LIC for circumventing and intentionally prolonging legal process. Those of us who do not subscribe to the stand taken by Sh. GNS have reasons for the same and at his age he should take the criticism in its stride instead of holding out a veiled threat of ‘defamatory action’ .

Yours truly

S.P.SOOD