I LEARNT OF SHRI V.R. KRISHNA IYER'S DEMISE THROUGH YOUR PROMPT POST IN PC.
IT IS TRUISM THAT KALADHARMA DOES NOT LEAVE ANYONE. BUT WHAT EACH INDIVIDUAL LEAVES BEHIND HIM ON KALA (TIME) AND IN HIS PATH ALONG THE JOURNEY OF LIFE IS WHAT DISTINGUISHES ONE GREAT PERSON FROM ORDINARY ONES.
HE WAS A JURIST UNPARALLELED AND IF HIS BROTHER JUDGES LEARNT FINER POINTS OF LAW FROM HIM ORDINARY FELLOWS LIKE ME ALSO ADMIRED HIS PRONOUNCEMENTS AND PROSE.
WHEN I LOOK BACK SERIOUS TRADE UNION WORKERS IN LIC WITH COMMITMENT TO WORKING CLASS WERE MOULDED BY ...
- 1. THE STRUGGLES AND POLEMICS IN THE DECADES OF 60s and 70s
- 2. THE ANTI-AUTOMATION STRUGGLE THAT WENT ON FOR YEARS
- 3. THE EXPERIENCE GAINED FROM NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL TRIBUNALS IN WAGE, PROMOTIONS AND OTHER MATTERS.
- 4. THE DENIAL OF PROMOTIONS FOR FULL 12 YEARS BETWEEN 1965--1977 THAT GAVE AMPLE TIME FOR SELF-STUDY AND PARTICIPATION IN BROAD STRUGGLES BOTH IN LIC AND OUTSIDE.
- 5. THE ABROGATION OF THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE BONUS WITHOUT CEILINGS BY EXECUTIVE AND A DETERMINED RULING PARTY. THE LEGAL FIGHT FOR RESTORATION OF BONUS WENT FOR FULL 6 YEARS . WHEN THE FINAL JUDGMENT CAME AND DIRECTIVE TO PAY ARREARS WITH INTEREST, THE NAME ON THE LIPS OF EVERY LIC EMPLOYEE WAS THAT OF JUSTICE V.R. KRISHNA IYER.
- THAT WAS ALSO THE OCCASION FOR THE FIRST CONTINUOUS UNITED STRIKE FOR 14 DAYS ARMED WITH A FAVOURABLE COURT JUDGMENT DEMANDING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE VERDICT IN FULL.
- 6. IN THE DECADES OF 90s IT WAS THE GREAT DEBATE OVER THE DEMAND OF PENSION .. 2ND BENEFIT VERSUS 3RD BENEFIT AND FINALLY ACHIEVEMENT IN THE PRESENT FORM OF DEFINED BENEFIT SCHEME. NOW OUR FIGHT IS FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THE SCHEME.
- JUSTICE KRISHNA IYER'S CONTRIBUTION TO IMPROVEMENT OF OUR KNOWLEDGE AND LEVEL OF CONSCIOUSNESS IS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED GRATEFULLY.
I ALSO JOIN THE PC IN PAYING HOMAGE TO THIS OUTSTANDING INDIAN.
B. GANGA RAJU, HYDERABAD
B. GANGA RAJU, HYDERABAD