Dear Editor,
The much awaited Judgement delivered
on 31 March 2016 by Justice Dipak Misra is now available in black &
white.
While we can expect dozens of
interpretations, scores of comments and hundreds of opinions on the
implications of the Order, I hasten to congratulate the entire LIC Pensioner
community for the UNPRECEDENTED Order handed down by Justice Misra, at a time
and under such circumstances when we could have been languishing for ever,
having gone down the drain, irretrievably.
I am flooded with calls and queries
by all categories of Pensioners. Well, the written Order is fully on expected
lines as far as I am concerned and as reported by me on 31 March 2016. The
other versions by or on behalf of, the other stakeholders have been proved
wrong wholly or partly.
I have been discussing with Sri
Mahadevan and we both analysed the Order jointly. The following points emerge
clearly.
1. The Jaipur Judgement (and the
other two along with it) has been set aside.
2. I wonder if there is a precedent
in the annals of judicial pronouncements, when certain relief is granted to the
'losing petitioners' after setting aside the Judgement - a relief which is not
appealable.
3. Interim relief is granted to the
most deserving section of the Pensioners. They stand to gain in two ways - the
amount ordered earlier has been doubled and it now covers ALL, who are ‘similarly placed’. Obviously the Apex
Court came to their rescue in a big way while on both the counts, these
pensioners were badly disowned or let down by their own leaders
4. The post- Aug 97 retirees are
genuinely aggrieved (that the up-gradation has not been conceded) but they
should realize that they now got a fresh lease of life, to plead their case
afresh in a fool-proof manner.
virtually nothing is lost.
The little time gap could be used to pool all resources,
human & intellectual, if not financial.
Let us grab the opportunity provided to us to work and ensure that the
final victory is ours.