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Some Tender Feelings, Sober Thoughts...

The last few days discussions or exchange of correspondences in the columns/pages of LICPC have proved that there is no dearth of intellectuals in old and very old pensioners of LifeInsurance Corporation of India.
Every next contributor's pen proved to be mightier than the earlier contributor/s.Hopefullythe swords were not crystal hard to injure/cripple any body. All's well when there are somelessons to learn.
Our leaders are matured enough to appreciate each others feelings. They may be allowed freehand to go ahead for common good. Certain things done cannot be undone after lapse of long gap of time. There may be some actions, unwittingly unknowingly taken. Such of the actions which are not difficult or inconvenient/impossible may be rectified to the satisfaction of majority/all.

The intellectuals 'vaada vivaada' was reflective of an old saying in Sanskrit, "Na badharo nirmatsyarasya" " Intellectuals are, by and large, jealous of one another."

 
Better end with a couplet - Doha - 
 
ऐसी बानी बोलिए, मन का आपा खोय |
औरन को शीतल करै, आपहु शीतल होय || Sant Kabir Das.
 
SN (a 1992 pensioner)
 

What next ?

Dear Editor,

Now that the discussion on 'mention'  has been brought to a close by you with your very mature handling, I am with so many others eagerly looking forward to the valuable opportunity of meeting and exchanging views during the A.I.R.E.F General Council Meet at Bangalore  from 14-16 October in less than two weeks from now. Stakeholders in Rajasthan and Punjab & Haryana High Court decisions have high expectations on the inputs coming from veterans like Asthanaji and others. 

BR Mehta

Panchkula

Urgent need for home work before we go to Supreme Court

The current round of discussion on 'mentioning' is being closed. Further inclusion of posts will be based on merits.

Dear Editor,

I fully endorse Sh. S.N. Chhabra that expression of  Divergent Views on same issue or a personality must be always encouraged and welcomed as it becomes a symbol of a healthy democracy and progressive nature of any organisation and as such your P.C. is doing a great service and hence it must continue with this mission.

However, real difficulty comes from  certain corners who view it as a symbol of disunity or try to call people like Sh. S.N.Chhabra or myself or others who try to question our hero Sh. Asthana as Agents of either of following three viz G.N.S/ G.O.I./ L.I.C.Management.

I feel that we should always welcome questions howsoever unpleasant same are. In stead of satisfying us with a proper replies, we are attacked in an old fashioned style that we are not true Pensioners. This will be taken as an attempt to impose dictatorship which can never succeed.

BR Mehta

Panchkula

Sir,

I appreciate your sagacity in allowing the pensioners to speak frankly on current matters of common interest. Once they are allowed to open their mouth without hesitation, they are reacted upon. In the process, their rough corners are rounded up. The society gains on the whole.

No institution can develop and progress where the members are muzzled into silence under the garb of some discipline. And, let me assure Mr Rao and his ilk that expression of divergent views is no indication of division in our ranks. All advice of Unity is strength, washing clothes in public etc etc is a baby talk. We are all mature sincere persons.

Let's face fact, retirees have no 
bargaining power,united or not.

Let us face facts that we retirees have no bargaining power, united or not. LIC shall act on whatever directions are given to them by Govt Of India. And, GOI have its own decision making machinery where Asthana, his friends and foes do not count.

It is very easy to put the controversies at rest. Only Asthana can do it. 

The GB Meeting at Bangalore next month provides an opportunity 

for him to rise and lay before the house a Statement of his accounts 

and activities.

• Mr. Aggarwal has found it difficult to answer to Mehta's question. He decided to go MOUN, the best thing to do in such circumstances. It will be of interest for readers to know that while Aggarwal went all over the country requesting people to deposit legal fund into Asthanas personal account, his own unit at Chandigarh passed a resolution that all their collections of legal fund be sent to the FED. only. And they have been doing so.

Regards.
SN Chhabra

Accusations and counter accusations about 'Mentioning'

Splurge in comments

Just after watching Modi's address to NRIs in America I opened the Chronicle but found a sudden splurge of comments on Mentioning. After a long time, that must have kept your readers a little busy following  a small lean time.

In Management there is a section  'Management by objective ' as I remember to have read for  Fellowship paper III.  The objective of Mentioning is now achieved and let us not bother who achieved and how and why etc. 

I appreciate the first reaction of Srinivasa Murhty in conveying the news to choronicle "Good for me, as my purpose is fully served".   It is in this spirit we must take it.  Comments of sit together - Discuss - Mutual trust are subject to  human weakness and so  instead of debating on the issue our leaders should concentrate on strategies for handling the case in SC on the appointed day.

T SAMPATH IYENGAR

BANGALORE

Unfortunate this public bickering and acrimony

"I see criticism against Asthana by pensioners but not warranted at the present moment," writes LSRK RAO

Dear friends,

I am able to see a lot of criticism against Shri Aasthan by some of the learned pensioners,
It is not warranted at the present moment for our movement before the Supreme Court
of India on 12 11 2014. We have to concentrate particularly on our case and for the
implementation of the Jaipur High Court Order D/ 12 01 2010. Any suggestion to strengthen
the hands of Shri Aasthana is nothing but that of strengthening our own hands.

The enemy Camp and the Dark Forces in one name or other are trying to divide the rank and file
of the pensioners. The most pertinent of them is the L I C Management and the Government.
They are backed with enormous funds out of the surplus generated by us and the Government
is backed up with which we paid in various forms by way of taxes.

So, we have to calculate our strength and the enemy’s strength and run KURUSHETRA.
The Justice is on our side with the supportive judgements of Jaipur, Chandigarh & Delhi
along with the orders of the Supreme court without any stay on the Judgement of any
High Courts.

I am not mentioning that all of you are not aware of it but if we start criticizing each other
with the language bestowed upon us, no useful purpose will be served. The Management
can also conclude that ours is a divided house and the delay to the extent possible by requesting
adjournments after adjournments thereby justice is being delayed. “Delayed justice is nothing
but denied Justice”

Lastly, I pray every one of you not to criticize one another and let us fight for our cause.
When we need water it is not necessary who brought it, our point is our thirst is fulfilled or not.

Victory have many a father but defeat none. Let us ponder over to win our case which is
certain let us enjoy the fruits of our struggle from 1998 handled single hand by Shri AASTHANA.

Let us be proud of our strength but not ponder over on certain points which we can as well ignore.

Let me pray the GOD ALMIGHTY to strengthen our cause and bring unity in our THOUGHTS AND VOICE.

With regards,

L S R KRISHNA RAO. 

No reply to Mehta

Dear Editor,

I simply take pity on Mr.BR Mehta's  recent mail and would not like to drag this

unhealthy debate. 

HOWEVER THE MAIL FROM KOLKATA  GIVES THE NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE 

RESPONSE REQUIRED AT THIS POINT OF TIME. LETS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT, PRAY AND HOPE FOR MISSION OF TAKING THE LEGAL FIGHT TO ITS LOGICAL END WHEN PENSIONERS WILL GET FULL JUSTICE. 

With best wishes and regards

H K AGGARWAL

"Discuss strategies with mutual trust" - with whom ?

Mr. Aggarwal seems to be the  Public Relations Manager of AIRIEF. He will quote Vivekananda though it is like ...... ....ing the verses.  I have a simple question, can he quote AIRIEF circular and say since when AIRIEF started supporting Mr. Asthana.  If he doesn't have details, and if he really needs the same, I will search the old posts published in PC and send it for him. Mr. Asthana was 'adopted' by AIRIEF to suit Federation's needs.

2. He writes "TO LEND THEIR FULL SUPPORT IN ANY MANNER - 

MORAL/FINANCIAL/LEGAL ADVICE/

PROPOSALS/PLANS/ SIT TOGETHER 

TO DISCUSS STRATEGIES WITH MUTUAL TRUST 

TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS OF UPGRADATION OF PENSION" 

......SIT TOGETHER !?!?

TO DISCUSS STRATEGIES WITH MUTUAL TRUST ? Can anybody do so in view of their recent performance in the Mentioning issue.

Can the pensioners discuss anything with both of them "with trust".  This is something they have lost and their credibility is zero now.

I don't know if the Editor can publish this. 

Ramesh chandra, Mangalore.

Singing same old bhajan, this time with a difference

Dear Editor,

Just now I have seen a routine ritual being performed by our learned friend Sh. H.K.Aggarwal for last many years i.e. singing his Bhajan in favor of one single Hero. We also admit that contribution of  Sh. Asthana for continuous legal battle is very significant and absolutely there is no denying of this established fact. Yes a little change which is being observed by us in case of Sh. Aggarwal is that earlier while singing his same Bhajan every day, he used to give personal Bank Account Number with an appeal for very liberal donations in this particular bank account only. However, he has stopped the practice quite recently.

But my only request to our learned friend Sh.Aggarwal ji as well as all others who agree with him is that please share your specific reply to a very specific question raised by me in your P.C. yesterday. Let me repeat that question:

I will feel enlightened and obliged.

B.R.Mehta

Panchkula

"Expression of doubt about fairness of intention did not speak well," writes Mazumder

Respected Sri HK Aggarwal,

This refers to your communication through LIC PC on 28th sept. 2014.

You are absolutely right in your expression ".... IT IS NO TIME TO RAISE UNNECESSARY NEGATIVE & FUTILE VOICES WHO DID WHAT AND WHAT NOT.

AS WE ARE AT THE LAST STAGE OF SURMOUNTING OF THE LEGAL FIGHT, IT CALLS FOR ALL PENSIONERS TO REMAIN UNITED AS EVER AND CONTINUE TO LEND 

THEIR FULL SUPPORT IN ANY MANNER- MORAL/FINANCIAL/LEGAL ADVICE/ PROPOSALS/PLANS/ SIT TOGETHER TO DISCUSS STRATEGIES WITH MUTUAL TRUST TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS OF UPGRADATION OF PENSION".

We, in Kolkata, hold Asthanaji in high esteem as he is the chief architect of the castle of our aspirations that we rightfully deserve.

We will have enough of time for accusations once issues 

are finally decided. Pensioners will shower credits to 

the fighters who have been championing their causes 

covering every section of pensioners irrespective of the 

dates of retirements. 

It is the time for maintaining restraint. 

With profound regards,

Subir Kumar Mazumder

Attention gets focused on D-Day, 12th November 2014

The ‘MENTION‘ a privilege bestowed to the litigants who have a genuine grievance has not been utilized by us for so many years and when it suddenly surfaced people swung into action to be the first to petition for it. Had such an action emerged earlier perhaps it could have reduced the number of agonizing adjournments. However better late than never. Wisdom has dawned for good.

• Now all our attention gets rightly focused on that D-day, 12/13 NOVEMBER when all the pending cases will be heard and disposed with no more adjournments. We all pray and wish for it. Some aged and ailing, I am also one at age 81, include in their prayer that God should keep them going until then. 

While it could be a cake walk for us as far as one writ is concerned, removal of the DA anomaly, as the law is very much on our side and the appellant has no defense to offer and the law cannot be made topsy turvy. Then comes the effective date and the rate of interest for implementation where there could be some argument. I am not sure what the earlier court order said about it and any information on that would help me to calculate the arrears and to keep my better half in good humor!

• With regard to the other writ, the most important one, the upgradation of pension, although admitted in Jaipur HC and validated subsequently the appellant may come forward with some argument as to the interpretation of the Board resolution more especially whether it is automatic whenever there is a wage revision and whether the same weightage has to be given. We therefore need to be vigilant with all statistics and interpretation at our command, not to hibernate with over confidence, remembering the proverb that even an elephant will slip and get into the pit. To succeed there should be fusion of our wisdom and synergy in action and that is possible only when the stake holders come on a common platform burying all their differences. But who will bell the cat ?

R.K.Viswanathan 

"Funny and untimely", friends not appreciating Asthana's fight supported by AIRIEF

NOW, WHILE CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE LEGAL FIGHT BY ALL OF ANY CLASS OR CADRE OR AFFILIATION ANY WHERE AND EVERY WHERE MUST BE RESPECTED AND APPRECIATED WITHOUT ANY PREJUDICE OR MALICE, 

THIS LEGAL FIGHT IS FOR ALL THE EMPLOYEES 

( IN SERVICE OR RETIRED). IT IS NO TIME TO 

RAISE UNNECESSARY NEGATIVE & FUTILE 

VOICES WHO DID WHAT AND WHAT NOT.

AS WE ARE AT THE LAST STAGE OF SURMOUNTING OF THE LEGAL FIGHT, IT CALLS FOR ALL PENSIONERS TO REMAIN UNITED AS EVER AND CONTINUE 

TO LEND THEIR FULL SUPPORT IN ANY MANNER - 

MORAL/FINANCIAL/LEGAL ADVICE/

PROPOSALS/PLANS/ SIT TOGETHER 

TO DISCUSS STRATEGIES WITH MUTUAL TRUST 

TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS OF UPGRADATION OF PENSION 

AND REMOVAL OF DR/DA IN THE NEAR FUTURE. WE HAVE WAITED FOR OVER 15 YRS,AND MANY HAVE DIED WAITING FOR DELIVERY OF JUSTICE. THUS, LETS PRAY AND HOPE FOR PEACE, JOY AND PROSPERITY OF ALL IN THE PRESENT FESTIVE SEASON.

WITH BEST WISHES AND REGARDS TO ALL
H K AGGARWAL

"Asthana would never like any other person or association to lead and get the cases decided", writes PP Dhamija

Dear Mr. Gangadharan

P.P. Dhamija

Playing games

Dear Editor,

I must compliment you for a very healthy debate on current issue of Missing United Action During Mention Move.

I have one simple question from all my learned friends.

Sh. Asthana was publically opposing Mention Move suggested by Sh.Murty a few days before. This is an open secret known to all of us. Why he took the same step which was being openly opposed by him just few days before on 24th in his individual capacity without informing two other stake holders .

Regards,

B.R.Mehta, Panchkula

Retd. Class I Officers Association meeting

at Thiruvananthapuram.

100% neutralization in DR etc.

There was 17 slabs increase in DA to serving employees for the quarter August, 2014 to October 2014. They get 100 % Neutralisation ( Nn ) in DA.

There was 17 slabs increase in Dearness Relief to pensioners for the half year August 2014 to
January 2015. All of us know LIC pensioners retired on or after 1 st Aug. 1997 get 100 % Nn in DR. 100 % DA / DR is on basic pay/ basic pension

Those retired prior to 1 st August 1997 get DR on tapering ( gradually reducing percentage ) basis. Those retired upto " ( A) Rs.1250 and (B ) Rs.2400 " basic pension get 100 % Nn in DR and others get on reducing percentage basis as under :

DR for August 2014 to January 2015

( A ) To those retired prior to 01-08-1992 #

Basic Pension (BP)

(i) Upto. Rs.1250. 832.14 per cent .i.e. 100% Nn in DR upto Rs.1250
(ii) Rs.1251 to Rs.2000. Rs.10401.75 + 683.1 % of BP in excess of Rs.1250
(iii) Rs.2001 to Rs.2130. Rs.15525.00 + 409.86 % of BP in excess of Rs.2000
(iv) Above Rs.2130. Rs.16057.81 + 211.14 % of BP in excess of Rs.2130

( B ) To those retired between 01-08-1992 to 31-07-1997 #

Basic Pension (BP)

(i) Upto Rs.2400. 386.75 per cent i.e. 100 % Nn in DR. upto Rs.2400
(ii) Rs.2401 to Rs.3850. 9282 + 320.45 % of BP in excess of Rs.2400
(iii) Rs.3851 to Rs.4100. 13928.52 + 187.85 % of BP in excess of Rs.3850
(iv) Above Rs.4100. 14398.41 + 99.45 % of BP in excess of Rs.4100

Difference in DR with 100 % and tapering basis ( Aug 2014 to Jan. 2015 ) at the maximum of
pay scales of few categories are indicated below. Anyone can work out the difference in DR
that he / she would get based based on the above.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DIFFERENCE IN DR AND TOTAL PENSION ONLY WITH CENT
PERCENT DR NEUTRALISATION IS VERY LESS COMPARED TO THE TOTAL PENSION A
PENSIONER GETS WITH UPDATION OF PENSION ALONG WITH REVISION OF PAY
SCALES OF WORKING EMPLOYEES. 

FOR DETAILS, PLEASE SEE SHRI C.H. MAHADEVAN'S CHART POSTED IN LICPC IN JULY 2014.

For example: 

( i ) AAO retired before 01-08-1992, with Basic Pension of Rs.2130/- got a total
pension of Rs.18818/- for the month of Aug.2014. It is with DR Tapering basis. With 100 %
Nn in DR he would have drawn Rs.19855/-, a meagre increase of Rs.1667/-. AAO should get
Rs.32379/-with updation of pension ( 100% DR shall be automatic with updation ).

( ii ) AO retired at maximum in Aug. 1992 pay scale, draws a total pension of Rs.19267/- with.
DR on tapering basis. With 100 % DR , the total pension works out to Rs.21831/-.A sum of
Rs.2564/-. AO 's total pension of Aug. 2014 at maximum of the grade is Rs.34184/-.

ALL NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE WITH GRATITUDE THE EFFORTS OF SHRI K M L
ASTHANAJI FOR GETTING NOTHING LESS THAN UPDATING OF PENSION
RETROSPECTIVELY AND 100% NEUTRALISATION IN DR TO PRE FIRST AUGUST 1997
RETIREES 

Courtesy: CHM & RHS.

SN (a 1992 pensioner) 

Provisions on "Minimum Pension" in LIC Pension Rules,1995‏

The following provisions in LIC Pension Rules amended upto 2000 are significant:

"36. The amount of minimum pension  shall be

(a)----

(b)----

(c) Rs 1100;- per month in respect of employees belonging  to Class I, Class II,Class III, & Class IV who have  retired or died  on or after the first day of August,1997;

(d)In case of any wage revision in future, the amount  of minimum pension payable  to an employee shall be determined  by the Corporation  corresponding to the index in which  the scale is linked.

(The Corporation has determined that the  amount of minimum pension shall be Rs 1480/- per month in respect of employees  belonging to Class I, Class II,Class III, & Class IV who have retired or died  on or after the first day of August,2002)."

Based on this,LIC might have also  revised the minimum pension in respect of employees belonging to Class I, Class II,Class III, & Class IV who have  retired or died  on or after the first day of August,2007after the wage revision notification of 2010, although I am not readily aware of the revised minimum pension amount.

But, reading between the lines, these provisions lay down a principle of revision of  minimum pension  after every  wage revision  corresponding to the index in which the scale is linked.

When this principle is  followed for minimum pension,there is no  reason why upgradation of regular pension and family pension should not be  effected  by LIC  what with, the Jaipur SJB judgment,LIC Board Resolution and the Punjab  & Haryana High  Court judgment refused to be stayed by the Supreme Court.

These provisions  can  come in handy when the cases are argued on 12/11/2014 in the Supreme Court.

With greetings,

C H Mahadevan 

Boasting and blaming

Shri HK Aggarwal has quoted Mr Asthana's statement as follows:

"STILL I SAY INSTEAD OF BOASTING AND BLAMING ONE ANOTHER IT WILL BE BETTER IF WE SIT TOGETHER AND DISCUSS OUR STRATEGY AND PROCEED ON THOSE LINES, OTHERWISE IT IS NOT PERMISSIBLE FOR HYD UNIT TO INTERVENE IN THE CASE".

When three cases are tagged together, any interested party can 

intervene legally.Our Hyderabad Association with more than 100 

members has got a huge stake in obtaining a successful outcome in 

the hearing on 12/11/2014 of the three cases tagged together.Now 

that the matter is in the Supreme Court, the ownership for the 

effective conduct of the cases morally vests on the general 

fraternity of pensioners.

Hyderabad Association is determined to do all that it is required 

to do within its resources so that all the three tagged cases come 

to a successful conclusion for the benefit of all pensioners who have 

been waiting for too long in the evening of their lives.

Of course,our Association is prepared to sit together and discuss 

strategy for conducting the case provided the others are willing to 

positively participate.In fact the proposal for such discussions has 

been made time and again by Mr Sreenivasa Murty in the 

recent past.

Kind regards.

C H Mahadevan

Unfortunate developments

Very unfortunate things are happening now a days.The war for credit getting intensified as the days of final round of battle are getting closer.

Leaders and pioneers of the battle are getting apprehensive of the credit being grabbed by the one or other group (the co-fighters) in the field.

We have witnessed this phenomenon in the week before this and it is being continued. The matured leaders, in the final years of their lives, have engaged themselves in the childish quarrel expressing doubts in the matter of fairness of intentions of the co-fighters.

One may not agree to the proposal of extending support to the "Mention" prayers and there may be genuine reasons for that. But Sri MS Murty wanted united approach for "Mention" only. Expression of doubt about the fairness of intention did not speak well of our taste and culture.

It is not time for throwing mud on others. At least, the leaders should refrain from the ugly things and engage themselves in formulating their own lines of action maintaining silence. We will have enough of time for accusations once issues are finally decided. Pensioners are not fools. They will shower credits to the fighters who have been championing their causes covering every section of pensioners irrespective of the dates of retirements.      
--
Subir Kumar Mazumder

Back-seat driving

Sir,

Mr.B.R. Mehta's writing attributing motives to Shri. Asthana and Shri Aggarwal sounds funny. Shri Asthana doesn't need any certificate from the likes of Mr Murthy or Mr. BR Mehta to prove his credentials. Everyone woke up about pension revision only after Shri Asthana, with the support of AIRIEF, won the historic battle at all levels in the Jaipur courts. The  self appointed messiah for unity has succeeded in creating fissures among the pensioners. His motive of back seat driving  has few takers. His idea is laudable, not his modus operandi. He and Mr. Mehta should know that all the cases are tagged with the jaipur verdict and it is for Shri Asthana, in consultation with the leaders of AIRIEF, to decide as how to proceed. There is no question of taking credit as everyone among the pensioners hailing from the rival organisations know within the deepest corner of their hearts where the credit lies. Shri Asthana has opened his heart and has shown his readiness to meet anyone including the backseat driver.

Thanks to the Chronicle for keeping the pensioners fraternity alive.

K.S.Raman
(Mr. Raman writes, "Everyone woke up about pension revision only after Shri Asthana, with the support of AIRIEF, won the historic battle at all levels in the Jaipur courts."  The fact is all pensioners belonging to the Pensioner Associations woke up only after Asthana's success in Jaipur court. AIRIEF had no special role in Asthana's fight upto 2008. The decision to support him came in 2008 Jabalpur conference and actual support started after the Jaipur case was won in 2010. -Ed.)

Be positive

FRIENDS,

AS YOU ARE AWARE LAST YEAR HON'BLE SUPREME COURT HAD DISMISSED SLPs OF LIC AGAINST THE JAIPUR, CHANDIGARH & DELHI HCs ORDERS - DID NOT GRANT STAY OF JUSTICE BHANDARI'S HISTORIC JUDGMENT DATED 12.1.2010 BUT LEAVE TO APPEAL WAS ALLOWED BY CONDONING ABNORMAL DELAY BY DIV. BENCH HEADED BY HON'BLE JUSTICE SINGHVI SINCE RETIRED.

AS PER SUPREME COURT SITES "CASE STATUS" CIVIL APPEALS AT SR NO. 2 & 3 BELOW STAND CONNECTED TO Appeal Civil 8959-8962 of 2013 FIXED FOR 12.11.2014 -FOR FINAL HEARING BY THE DIVISION BENCH COMPRISING OF
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE DIPAK MISRA & HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VIKRAMAJIT SEN.

1. Appeal Civil 8959 -8962 OF 2013

LIC OF INDIA AND ORS .Vs. KRISHNA MURARI LAL ASTHANA AND ANR ETC.

2. Appeal Civil 6995 OF 2013

LIFE INSURANCE CORP. OF INDIA & ORS. .Vs. MADAN LAL GANDHI (D) THR. LR. & ORS.

3. Appeal Civil 9223 OF 2013

L.I.C OF INDIA & ANR. .Vs. FEDERATION RETIRED LIC CLASS 1 AS. & ORS.,

IN THIS REGARD PLEASE REFER TO SH KML ASTHANA'S MAIL OF 26TH SEPT. THAT HAS BEEN PUBLISHED IN LICPC IN WHICH HE HAS INTER-ALIA STATED AS UNDER:-

                                  "STILL I SAY ... ...  IT WILL BE BETTER IF WE SIT TOGETHER AND 
                                  DISCUSS OUR STRATEGY AND PROCEED ON THOSE LINES, 
                                  OTHERWISE IT IS NOT PERMISSIBLE FOR HYD UNIT TO INTERVENE 
                                  IN THE CASE." - KML ASTHANA.

IT IS PERTINENT TO NOTE HERE THAT THE JUDGMENTS OF PB & HRY HC AND DELHI HC ARE BASED UPON THE RAJASTHAN HC JUDGEMENT DATED 12.1.2010 OF HON'BLE JUSTICE BHANDARI WHERE IN " BOTH THE WRITS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED AND LIC DIRECTED TO IMPLEMENT LIC BOARD RESOLUTION OF 24.11.2001." IN RAJASTHAN HC WRIT OF MANDAMUS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF WRIT NO.654/2007 ON UPGRADATION OF PENSION IS LISTED FOR 10.10.2014.

PENSIONERS IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR CLASS OR CADRE OR AFFILIATION HAVE FULL FAITH & CONFIDENCE IN MR. KML ASTHANA'S PROFESSIONAL ACUMEN, HIS CAPABILITY AND CAPACITY TO FACE AND FIGHT UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES DESPITE HIS NOT SO GOOD HEALTH, AND TAKE THE LEGAL FIGHT TO A FRUITFUL END. HE HAS ASKED OTHERS TO SIT TOGETHER AND DISCUSS OUR STRATEGY & PROCEED FURTHER. IT WILL BE IN THE INTEREST OF ALL TO SHED INHIBITIONS AND PREJUDICES AT THIS POINT OF TIME. AWAKE ARISE AND STOP NOT TILL WE REACH OUR GOAL. TOGETHER WE WILL WIN AND TRUTH WILL TRIUMPH. BE POSITIVE.

WITH BEST WISHES AND REGARDS TO ALL

H K AGGARWAL.

Editor's Notes

A valued contributor has written to the Editor today complaining "Lot of editing. It's your discretion only.  No issue. Thanks." When his post was published today, a paragraph was edited out.  His last post was not published at all. No doubt, he appeared to be a good observer and contributed his views frequently, but sometimes it appeared that he was in a hurry and often sent message enquiring about the fate of his posts.

2. Earlier a post by one of the persons involved in the present SC case controversy was withheld and ultimately it was not published.  While his writing suited his strategy, it didn't fit into the Editor's strategy. He was so informed.

3. Other posts by some of our valued contributors could not be published as it was the Chronicle's strategy not to antagonise or infuriate people or arouse somebody's hostility.

4. An atmosphere conducive to discussion was sought to be created but then, one may ask whether this strategy did actually work.  Let us make it clear without an iota of doubt that we failed.  But it was not a miserable tantalizing fall. We could achieve some amount of success. Let us make it clear and make things free from doubts that Shri Asthana did write to us a midnight mail, although he did not disclose his strategy and was speaking something not being the immediate point of concern that fateful night.

5. Pensioners cards are being played at our end with significant strategies and results.  While a pensioner Association could have its own strategy and may like to outsmart other players in the field, we do not have any such ambitions or aspirations.

6.  Editing is done sometimes to weed out intemperate utterances.  Certain posts are not published sometimes for the fear that it may mar the prospects of having some understanding among the warring groups of pensioners. We have withheld/edited GN Sridharan's post once. But he was one who was found tolerating us. We have omitted certain portions of a particular statement published today. Pensioners should have a right to know all about matters of their concern. But we are pensioners many of whom being in their advanced ages.  And sometimes we tempt to write in a intemperate way.  By and large our good leaders have understood us.

7.  Our burden today is to inform the readers and our learned contributors that all the mails may not be published.  Some posts may be ready but kept aside for a suitable date for uploading. Some sentences are edited for the fear that the same may infuriate the other groups. Some other posts are delayed for copy editing, font management etc. mostly problems arising out of capital letters used in the posts.  Some posts are immediately copied and uploaded without any editing for it is free from blemishes and usually they wrote non-controversial posts. Yesterday it so happened, such a post was immediately published without  going through each and every word.  The post showed the date of hearing as 12th October 2014 which was pointed out by another reader and had to be later corrected.

Peaceful co-existence.

8.  Cartoons are never meant to hurt anybody.  Size of the cartoon matters.  If a full size cartoon is published, it conveys very tough odious and even unpalatable connotations.  If the size is reduced, it may project a palatable look, even the words may sound amiable.  And when the same cartoon is planted as a pocket cartoon, it may be even ignored.  Sometimes we have heard complaints that some persons  are placed in 'poor light'.  But we do require that freedom for criticism.  The problem is that our readers do not react.  They could come forward and criticise the cartoons, and put forward their own arguments.  When such a criticism or concern of the readers is published, it becomes a picture of peaceful co-existence and a perfect piece of harmony between the Editor and its readers.

9.  In between, very rarely though, you could ignore an autobiographical piece of writing entitled 'My LIC days - My Life, My struggles'. When three persons worked with different tastes in an organisation, there arose problems. These sketches, when published, may be ignored.

This's for the present. Will write more about my experiments with editing whenever need arises.

Plan a unified strategy to present our case

Dear Shri.Gangadharan,

• Reading ‘Pensioneers Chronicle’ has become a habit with me these days. Matters have come to such a head now that neither Asthana's camp nor Sreedharan's are refusing to see the writing on the wall. The inadequate provision made for the Defence personnel and non-implementation of RBI pensioners ‘approved in principle’ upgradation are pointers to the thinking on the part of the Govt. of the day in their approach and attitude towards the hapless pensioners. In the light of this and background and with a few of the High Court judgements in our favour, it would only be wise on the part of both the camps to bury the past, put their heads together and take a totally positive and pro-active action. Shri. Mahadevan is providing, from time to time, all the essential ingredients which would come in handy for our counsels while arguing out our case. The next hearing is more than one month away and should anything positive happen it is time our learned leaders buried their egos deep down and plan a unified strategy in presenting our case which will help us see the light at the end of the tunnel. Are we dreaming or will it be a reality?

With warm regards,
M. V. Venugopalan

Who is playing games and with whom ?

Dear Editor,

Sh. Sreenivasa Murty is doing some exercise with very clear motives and transparent approach besides without having any hidden agenda. He was putting all his moves on your blog but he was criticized by forces who were having hidden agenda and kept their cards close to their chest. Our Learned Friend Sh.H.K.Aggarwal even advised Sh. Murty not to play games with Sh. Asthana.

Now when Sh. Murty talked of mentioning before Supreme Court Bench on 25th Sept for an early hearing of all three civil appeals tagged together, we got a news on 24th that advocate of Sh. Asthana has already made a mention before Supreme Court Bench and Bench has agreed for hearing of our cases on 12.11.2014.

See the basic difference here is that whereas Sh. Murty was trying to take this move with united action/transparent approach without being in race for credit war but desired result has been achieved a day before with secret method without any consideration for united action move purely with a motive of being a single winner in said credit war.

Now all independent and neutral thinking pensioners must have seen very clearly that Who is Playing Games With Whom ?

My only concern is that without a united action and transparent approach it will be very difficult to prepare for an extremely tough battle to be fought in Supreme Court on 12.11.2014. God is Great. Let entire LIC Pensioners Community win said battle.

B.R.Mehta
Panchkula

Random thoughts

KML acts....
Mentions on 'his' appeals... 
MSM stands vindicated.

SC has already decided to tag all appeals together  
(whether KML likes or not.) 
They will also be heard together. 
(He has no control on that, blissfully." )

KML, GNS and MSM have many admirers, 
many followers, a quite, a good of them with KML for obvious. 
MSM could have avoided the bracketed. 
KML (had  to react ?) swiftly reacted.

We are not here to play politics of a kind. 
It is better to delete the unwarranted; 
                   inviting some kind of ill feeing, 
                   mutual mistrust, wrath - 
                   all these traits not uncommon among the aged! 
I am feeling that I am also crossing the Laxman Rekha, 
becoming too didactic too (extra) smart, 
I better even up, correct ; I better exercise skilful restraint.

SN 

HC slaps jail term on two top scientists

Holding two top scientists guilty of contempt of court the Madras HC awarded three weeks simple imprisonment to them and levied a fine for their willful failure to implement the court orders in the matter of providing employment to the petitioner. The court directed the condemners to surrender for undergoing the punishment within a week failing which the registry is directed to issue warrant.

The learned Judge in the course of the judgment observed:” Knock with faith the doors of heaven will open to you, Christ said. The petitioner has been relentlessly knocking the doors of the Government in vain and continued to be in hell.”

The petitioner has undergone three rounds of litigation in the court and in all the three rounds he won the case. In this context the learned judge observed : “ We find that they have willfully disobeyed the court orders. We are aware they are occupying very high positions but ensconced in a pedestal, their vision becomes blurred when it comes to the travails of an ordinary employee.“ 

Such a situation which prevails now goes unchecked and there is no proper machinery to monitor the implementation of the court order in letter and spirit, where will a common citizen go who has his own limitations to act except file a contempt petition and live with the premonition whether at all he will survive to see the light in the tunnel.

R.K.Viswanathan

ASTHANA writes

SIR

SOME REMARKS ARE TO BE MADE WHETHER THEY ARE THE NEED OF THE DAY OR NOT. ASTHANA IS TO BE ATTACKED WHETHER HE DOES GOOD OR NOT AND TO COVER OUR OWN IGNORANCE. WHEN OTHER SLPS ARE ALREADY TAGGED WHERE WAS THE NEED TO MAKE A MENTION IN THOSE SLPS. 

IT MUST ALSO BE UNDERSTOOD THAT SO FAR THERE IS NO ORDER OF CLUBBING THE CHANDIGARH SLP WITH ME, I AM NOT PARTY TO IT. DELHI HC HAS BEEN CLUBBED BUT I HAVE NO RECORD OR NOTICE IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES HOW COULD I HAVE MADE A MENTION ABOUT THEM? BUT IT HAS TO BE TOLD THAT IN SPITE OF REQUESTS AND APPLICATION MADE IN THE SC TO PROVIDE ME A COPY OF DELHI HC SLP THIS HAS NOT BEEN PROVIDED TO ME AND STILL YOU ARE TRYING TO DEFAME ME, WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN PROVIDED TO ME. WITHOUT SLP I CANNOT BE BLAMED.

SIMILARLY A COPY OF THE APPLICATION MOVED BY HYDERABAD UNIT HAS ALSO NOT BEEN PROVIDED TO ME IN SPITE OF REPEATED REQUESTS. YOUR STAND IS NOT THAT CLEAR, WHY LIC WAS MADE TO APPEAR ON THE NEXT DAY BY GIVING NOTICE FOR MENTION WHEN ALREADY THE DATE HAD BEEN GIVEN BY THE COURT?

KML ASTHANA

On Thu, Sep 25, 2014 at 10:04 PM, Seetha And Kishore <rbkseetha@yahoo.com> wrote:

THANKS TO LIC PENSIONERS CHRONICLE...
Here're some comments :

"ON SH. ASTHANA'S APPLICATION - HEARING OF CASES IN SC ON 12TH NOVEMBER, 2014.‏ Thanks Dear Sh Gangadharan,You have an image of a neutral editor."

HK Aggarwal.

"KML Acts - Thanks to LIC PC. ‏In any case my stand is fully vindicated that Mentioning is possible, necessary and is actually done. Only regret is it could have been done better, by not trying to limit the Final Hearing to only his cases. SC has already decided to tag all appeals together whether KML likes or not. They will also be heard together. He has no control on that, blissfully." 

M. Srinivasa Murty.

Earlier Sampath Iyengar had written to us: "IT IS GOOD NEWS THAT CHRONICLE HAS TAKEN UP THE CAUSE OF MENTIONING IN SC WITH ASTHANAJI. VERY HAPPY. Yes a debate is wholely inappropriate at this juncture."

Requires no caption.

SC CIVIL APPEALS listed on 12th November 2014

Courtesy: LSRK Rao.

Count down for final hearing

A Memorandum to Sri Prakash Javadekar,Minister for Information & Broadcasting

THANKS TO LIC PENSIONERS CHRONICLE...
Here're some comments :

"ON SH. ASTHANA'S APPLICATION - HEARING OF CASES IN SC ON 12TH NOVEMBER, 2014.‏ Thanks Dear Sh Gangadharan,You have an image of a neutral editor."

HK Aggarwal.

"KML Acts - Thanks to LIC PC. ‏In any case my stand is fully vindicated that Mentioning is possible, necessary and is actually done. Only regret is it could have been done better, by not trying to limit the Final Hearing to only his cases. SC has already decided to tag all appeals together whether KML likes or not. They will also be heard together. He has no control on that, blissfully." 

M. Srinivasa Murty.

Earlier Sampath Iyengar had written to us: "IT IS GOOD NEWS THAT CHRONICLE HAS TAKEN UP THE CAUSE OF MENTIONING IN SC WITH ASTHANAJI. VERY HAPPY. Yes a debate is wholely inappropriate at this juncture."