The honourable and learned sitting Judge/s of Rajasthan High Court and other courts including the Supreme Court know that all the retirees of pre and post 1996 judges, registrars etc. of the courts, including the Chief Justice of India of the Apex court get 100% - neutralisation - dearness relief from 01-01-1996 irrespective of their dates of retirement. They also get updation of pension with every revision of pay scales of serving employees based on certain fitment formula as per recommendations of CPC and on the lines/similar to GOI pensioners.
( In brief : to mention only about 2006 revision : the revised basic pension arrived at by merger of 100 % dearness allowance/relief and fitment weight-age of 40% increase on the existing basic pension.) The Pensioners Forums of various government departments are at it and are hopeful of getting stage to stage fitment - one rank one pension with the anticipated recommendations by the 7th CPC.
The intentions of the Respondents - LIC/GOI are clear. They have once again resorted to throw tantrum, the childish clamor to deny to delay the pensioners' just and reasonable demands of 100% dearness relief to pre August, 1997 pensioners and updation of pension along with revision of pay scales working employees.
The GOI has revised the pension and family pension of its pensioners and family pensioners retrospectively from 01-01-1996 and 01-01-2006 (to mention about the last two revisions) and not from a prospective date or from the date of Office Memorandum /The Presidential Order issued. Why should the LIC pensioners and family pensioners be obliged to be contented with 'the revision of pension etc.' from a prospective date, from the date of Notification in the GOI Gazette?
To mention a recent development, in short, about the pre 2006 GOI pensioners: After a legal battle of four/five years with GOI, the pre 2006 pensioners (-' all the eligible'- no space to mention details -) got a legal remedy by Delhi High court to get revised /enhanced pension based on the revised Concordance table. GOI issued a OM in January 2013 with a rider that the enhanced pension would take effect from
23-09-2012 and no arrears of pension/family pension from 01-01-2006 will be paid.....
The subsequent SLPs of GOI were dismissed by courts, the Supreme Court dismissed the SLP stating that they are not inclined to interfere with the order passed by Delhi High Court. GOI is still on the 'run' trying to move courts etc.. But, the pensioners might should and would prevail. The role played by the CAT in this case is note worthy. The enhanced pension/family pension in short, is retrospectively from 01-01-2006.
Let all of us pray collectively that our sincere prayers be heard by the Almighty and by the learned Judge/s. LIC/GOI should be better advised to play a pro active role to implement the Rajsthan High Court's judgement without further loss of time.
Let us continue to have faith in judiciary.
Let not there be a day that the Aam Janataa, common man /the general public entertain thought/s of- contempt/repulsion towards judiciary, towards courts.
SN (a 1992 pensioner),
06-01-2014