I hope all right-thinking LIC
Pensioners agree with me that the Hon’ble Supreme Court Order dated 7th
May 2015 is a major leap forward for the beleaguered Pensioners if only we can
ensure that LIC implements it (or forced to by the SC itself to do so) by
paying 20% of the dues to ALL THE PENSIONERS (including enhanced/up-graded Pension), in addition to full DR to
pre-‘97 retirees. In my modest view that was the implied mandate in the Order. I
felt after an hour long discussion that many of the submissions in my
Memorandum were not controverted by E D (P). He didn’t say in so many words
though.
As far as the Order of 7th
May is concerned, being for ‘interim benefit’ it is no longer a Jaipur matter
or Chandigarh or Delhi matter. It concerns every Pensioner.
My focussed interaction with ED (P)
& MD in ‘Yogakshema’ on 5th June helped me to understand their
mind, pretty well. ED (P) read my Memorandum (on my request) line by line and
asked me questions. I think I could convince him with my answers that it is not easy for them to implement the Order
without violating some part or the other, of the directions of the Apex Court.
Is it worthwhile to ‘risk’ facing contempt charges if it is possible to avoid?
It is a devil and the deep sea situation for them.
Only to the Petitioners who are all
for Pre-97 retirees (that too by following a blatantly wrong formula) could be their
preferred choice, if they are allowed to have their way. While on this, ED (P)
asked me “Mr Murty, we have Petitioners in Jaipur and we have them in
Chandigarh but whom do we pay to, in Delhi?” I mentally thanked GNS profusely
for becoming such a formidable hurdle to LIC for once, in spite of his unstinted
cooperation with LIC & Government and I replied “Agarwalji, please read the last line on page 4 of my Memorandum – you
have to pay to ALL or you (read: LIC) are in ‘trouble’ for sure.
I have reason to believe that LIC
would approach the Government for advice on how to comply with the Order (or
how not to?). I welcome it, if it happens. My own wish and prayer is that
either LIC should pay to all including up-graded pension (very unlikely though)
or seek SC Clarification which gives us a golden opportunity to tell the Court
our version of what the Order is meant to be.
I have a confirmed appointment
tomorrow (Monday) with the Director (DFS) in his Office in Delhi. It would be
my endeavour to plead that LIC gets ‘proper’ advice, if sought.
If I say ‘unity of approach’, there
are still left a few cult members who are always ready to pounce upon me due to
sheer ignorance and/or inability to see my purpose. These days,
I ignore them so as not to lose focus on my mission.
If LIC seeks clarification we have
work to do. ALL OF US, TOGETHER. GNS will not join anyway. When he was told that
even the pre-97 retirees are getting cheated if LIC is allowed to adopt the
formula which it is now doing - offering Ten Rupees where Fifty are due - his
response was ‘why Ten? I will take One Rupee if they pay me that’. Luckily LIC cannot pay even that One Rupee
and get away, thanks to the SC Order of May 7 as it is today….