* CHRONICLE - PENSIONERS CONVERGE HERE, DISCUSS ISSUES OF THEIR CHOICE * CHRONICLE - WHERE EVEN THE CHAT COLUMN PRODUCES GREAT DISCUSSIONS * CHRONICLE - WHERE THE MUSIC IS RISING IN CRESCENDO !

               
                                   

Thursday, June 09, 2016

GK VISWANATHAM


FIGHT SEEMS WITH IN “CLASS PENSIONERS”

I fail to understand the logistics of opposing the Hyderabad association and reminded of the dark yester years when Federation was formed splitting AIIEA condemning each other with all vehemence and depending upon the strengths resorting to fist fights sporadically across the country. Basically everybody or group depending on the individual’s capacity to influence people is entitled to their own opinion on any matter legal or otherwise. It is really unfortunate that pensioner groups mostly above age 70 should long after vacating seats of power if one may call it ( after all everybody knows what power these people or leaders wielded? ) be so unreasonable not to appreciate fine points in other’s.   LIC itself, in spite of financial giant-hood pumping public money in to economy in India, could not have any power much less respect in the corridors of power.

Be that as it may, one should appreciate the determined fight our leaders are carrying on for the benefit of pensioner community. It is a suggestion to Sri B S Hegde that 20% DA relief was accorded by the SC on the basis of previous High Court judgments and the latest 40% relief was on the interpretation of appendix 3A of pension rules while setting aside all those judgments.

Latest article by Sri SN 1992 (would like to know his full name) kindled a new hope. It is a foregone, if I may say, conclusion that SC has most likely admitted that there was unlawful anomaly in the provisions of pension rules what with the elucidation by Justice Mishra while delivering the judgment bringing comparison between pensions paid to various cadres and on the basis of years of retirement. All said and done Justice Bhandari also mentioned breach of articles 14 and 16 of Constitution of India would never have gone unnoticed by the Supreme Court which is why it has ordered DR relief at 15% earlier and 40% now.  SC while setting aside the impugned judgments on legal niceties than on the crux of the issue has therefore allowed a rare opportunity to petitioners including new players to agitate the case before Delhi Court afresh. Precisely for this reason AIIPA, which never saw any merit in the legal case jumped into the fray not to miss the bus.  I am sure with all four parties vying with each other to present the case in the best possible manner, all relevant points of law in favor of the pensioners will be covered making the job of Delhi High Court easy. And should there be any foul play by anybody in the case, Supreme Court is any way there which is very much conscious of aging petitioner community, appreciated the value of time and set 31.08.2016 as the latest by which the dispute be resolved. Physical unity can’t be anyway expected. Let there be emotional unity on issue PENSION.

Hyderabad association has already written to the CO on the steep rise in premium of health insurance what about other champions please? All associations should focus, I believe, on a cross subsidized rate of health insurance premium from the employees/officers in service to reduce the burden on the aged just as happening in pension payment to older retirees.


G K VISWANATHAM