A BALASUBRAMANYA

The credit for a series of successes at the SB & DB of the HC of Rajasthan at Jaipur and the dismissal of SLP's filed by LIC in SC and its emphatic ' NO ' for a STAY for the SB Judgment of 12-01-2010 sought by LIC, should obviously go to Sri KML Asthana and the entire pensioner community is beholden to him for spearheading strategies to achieve the present stage, despite paucity of funds and indifferent health. This has, incidentally, been responsible for making the pensioners aware of the issues.

With the sincere intention of persuading LIC, contempt proceedings were initiated at various rungs of the judiciary and unfortunately this strategy did not yield the desired results. This exercise involved delay and loss of precious money contributed by the pensioners and others, irrespective of their affiliations. Let me confess that I was one of those who felt so in hindsight and appealed to Sri KML Asthana to take steps to get a direction to LIC from the appropriate Court for LIC to honour the 12-01-2010  Judgment, by implementing its own Board Resolution of 24-11-2001 in its letter and spirit. The two Writs are now filed before the Jaipur HC for this purpose.

The latest development is that the SC is taking up the three CIVIL APPEALS filed by LIC

in the second week of August. It is, therfore, time for all the aggrieved parties to face the mighty LIC in a single and unanimous voice, to avoid avoidable delays and huge expenses involved, burying whatever small differences in approach they may be having. Let us absorb noble ideas and thoughts wherever they may come from, in the larger interests of a fast diminishing tribe, which will be grateful for the emerging benefit in the evening of their lives!

• In this connection, it is worthy of note that Sri M.S.Murty has taken enormous efforts not only to interact with Sriyuths Asthana, Sridharan, C H Mahadevan, R.B.Kishore and other active leaders in the process of the present litigation but groups of pensioners in Chennai, Delhi, Bangalore, etc., in a bid to hammer out a strategy for concerted action. If this is acted upon - I do feel that the proposed strategy does not in any way infringe upon the on-going process adversely - there Is a bright chance of tackling the Civil Appeals of LIC coming up before the SC during August next. I do appeal to our respected Leaders, Sri Asthana, Sri Sridharan & others to assess the merits of the proposal mooted by Sri M.S.Murty objectively and adjust their stances suitably with a view to put an end to the long-drawn litigation and earn the blessings of the beleaguered pensioners. Pensioners, in general, are very well aware of the contributions made by our leaders and will also appreciate the sacrifices made by them personally and financially in their interests.

• Needless to add, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE ;  ACTION NEEDS TO BE FAST-FORWARDED

It is hoped that all concerned will rise to meet this final opportunity before them or it will be:  " AB NAHIN THO, KABHI NAHIN " !

- A. BALASUBRAMANYA