RB KISHORE

Dear All,    

PAUSE, THINK, FUTILITY OF DISPARAGING REMARKS, UTILITY OF A STRATEGY 

1) LOVE is important. LOVE is the be-all & end-all of life. LOVE denotes affection & kindness. LOVE is all-embracing sacrifice for others. LOVE is shower of kisses, not kicks.LOVE is the nectar of life. LOVE is being merciful. Mercy is twice blessed, it blesseth him that gives & blesseth him that takes. LOVE is fragrance in full. Rose is a rose is a rose.The fragrance remains in the hands that offers rose & also in the hands that receives the rose.

2) When we see the war of words again, when we forgot Counter–Affidavits in courts but only want to give Counters & Counters, here & there, merrily & happily, that shows the decline in culture & ethos .Elders, pensioners of our age gained experience & maturity but it is strange & shocking that our lives have not been reformed or chastened. When mudslinging commenced many months before, after passage of few months, loud appeals & reiteration of appeals, requests for sanity, plea for moderation were rightly blown like a trumpet of care & caution to avoid deterioration. It looks now after completing a full circle, again yet another round of abuses & warnings are given. All these are not in good taste. This is in spite of announcements that no more such emails can be inserted as it is polluting the atmosphere & more rigidity will develop bad blood, if it is not completely stopped.

3) We all must realize whatever is our station in life, we must exhibit a sense of decency & decorum. We cannot indulge in caustic comments or sarcasm or subterfuge.If one feels so,let it be ignored rather than giving a handle to perpetuate. Think for a while if all these emails are not portraying the bickering, emails purged of the sentences which do not convey any forward step but only throwing stones at others or pointing out lack of courtesy etc but only the Strategy delineated, efforts under way, decent deadline for solution as pensioners. Tryst with Destiny date is nearing, no postponement of a finality, no question of probability, but an air of Certainty with that positive decision of unanimous voice on 12 Aug or later before SC Bench when all the 3 SLPs converted as CAs come for submissions,THAT ALONE WILL BECOME PALATABLE. But if no openness or frankness exists, facilitation is still going on, what to do when good offices are not agreed after many phones & face to face talks, pensioners fate continues to hang in balance

4)i) GS, Fedn of Retired Class I Officers Assns letter dt 31/5/2014 to Hon FM Arun Jaitley again sounds same resonance of DR only with reiteration of adhoc percentages for Pension revision. That is retrograde. DR School only -- was exposed after many presentations by me, sound & convincing with ever ready charts by Sri CH Mahadevan. Wave was always thereafter with TWIN BENEFITS only. We learnt many were unhappy with GS, Fedn of Class I Officers Assns, vote of no-confidence was in the air, GS silently sent SMS when he went to preside his Hyderabad Unit that those who do not subscribe to their majority view must be warned etc, but nothing happened. He offered to resign but no one was prepared to shoulder the onerous responsibility. Point is all these did not come into open & few knew such developments. We must learn a lesson, we persist in such exchanges, not consistent with decency or decorum. We have to keep our house in order & it must be more easier for Unity move agenda to complete the task with precision sooner.

ii)  On every platform we pensioners differ & ONLY SAFE, SECURE DOUBLE DECKER MULTIPLE PENSION REVISION WITH EVERY WAGE REVISION clinched victoriously by AIRIEF, what does it point out ? Unity efforts must primarily concentrate on this as pensioner fraternity cannot be kept on tenterhooks till the DDay 12 Aug or immediately thereafter. Preferably by 3rd week of this July month itself, if unity efforts succeed, that will be a great step forward & relieves pensioners of discomfort & frustration to cut short the waiting period endlessly.

5)i )  Look, AIIPA which was not in the picture of Court cases has also now written to FM, I learn, about pension upgradation & all know their request is truncated & from hereafter, prospective only, after wage talks conclude. Of what avail, friends ? What a grievous loss will it be for ALL GROUPS of pensioners need not be recapitulated.

ii) All these are only to put the brake, reverse the gear, slow motion court picture & panorama again getting muddled with contradictory perceptions, when we all, after indepth magnanimous portrayals of multiple benefits of pension --- decided with ONE VOICE to INSIST on TWIN BENEFITS secured thro that Unique Hon SJ Jaipur verdict dt 12/1/2010.

6) If that be so, whither are we going excepting expressing our personal opinions, that too unnecessarily loaded with harsh words hurting others. Kind words cost little but are worth so much. A word spoken or written or an arrow sped cannot be taken back, Bruises are bruises, deep wounds fester. I sincerely & seriously appeal to all involved in Unity Move, & all others who exchange correspondence not to attack others, follow a parliamentary democratic path, whatever Action Plans one has, convince the above messengers of partial benefit only to pensioners, to see reason when end of the road in SC Bench proceedings are soon due & ensure there is no miss between the cup & the lip.

7) Coming to Jaipur, Panchkula/Chandigarh peace-keeping efforts AIRIEF President, GS, myself had a long talk on many occasions last 2 months & more, followed up with many emails ,to realize importance of common umbrella of AIRIEF to help & assist every RIEA in their efforts to work in tandem & convergence to realize our Ultimate goals of TWIN BENEFITS which alone will engage the attention.Other important all-India leaders also offered sound advice to desist from unwanted exchange of words causing damage.One can say with an element of certainty that realization came & proper conducive atmosphere was created. We have pleaded with them to work without deviations & distractions & abandoning any ego altogether.

8)i) AIRIEF President & GS have reached out to all parties, Fedn of Class I Officers Assns whose cooperation will be crucial & vital. Already President has initiated some measure of sharing thoughts as a prelude to face to face meetings for the one & only solution of presentation & submission of arguments with perfect Symphony & Unanimity to score victory on 12/8/2014 or thereafter. 

I have requested our President & GS to quickly select a Sr Counsel whose words will count, who has a good image & reputation in SC.

ii) Tough fight will it be in SC, no easy going & that is why I was always, with mature reflections & thinking, advised that Sr Counsel should not be caught unawares, he must be able to scan thro our Note with Succinct Points & history of developments , sincerely portrayed, arguments for rebuttal supplied. That input upgradation is necessary, plan & strategy must be distinct & clear, courtcraft of the highest & truly professional submission with repartees & rebuttals of LIC Counsel a dire need. What is required is Aristocracy of thoughts & Meritocracy of ideas. Appealing to the mind & heart of Hon SC Bench, with facts & figures of aged pensioners, the innumerable deaths of pensioners more than 13,000 by now, the jump of Family Pensioners from 18% to 35 % depicting a sad tale of helplessness for the widow, the dillydallying by LIC & UOI with preconceived ideas & stubbornness, misinterpreting the verdict to suit their own way, seeking many adjournments, scant respect to sanctity of Courts ,untouched LIC Board Resolution dt 24/11/2001 on which Foundation, Hon SJ Jaipur wonderfully erected a Superstructure extending pension upgradation with every wage revision as then 8/2002 & 8/2007 wage revisions were yet to come, the Clinching SECRET letter dt 31/12 /2001 by LIC to MOF/UOI recommending the desirability of relativity of pensions inter-generational for various pensioner groupwise, & quoting latest OROP Defence force case ,where SC 5-Judge Bench presided over by Hon Chief Justice Sri Lodha, hit the nail on the head, throwing away the despicable sticky defence of UOI for effective date 9/2012 & pronouncing 1/1/2006, from when the Discrimination emerged.

iii) So too, for we pensioners, why should pre-8/1997 pensioners agree to anything later or prospective, which LIC may again tout saying Board Resolution decision says so & if that silly statement by LIC Counsel comes must be overthrown by combined synergy & unanimous voice of 3 Sr Advocates. Similarly, even for pension upgradation, our Sr Counsels can claim any earlier date after Board Resolution , say 1/1/2002 or synchronizing with 1/8/2002 wage revision or at worst 1/1/2007 as pension upgradation Writ is CWP 654/2007. Indeed this 5–Judge SC Bench verdict will go down in history as yet another post-Nakara unique judgement for pensioners to revel, just like the ever famous Nakara presided over by Hon CJI YV Chandrachud & this must be appropriately & convincingly utilized with assertiveness & even aggressiveness, as we pensioners are at the receiving end with 4 positive verdicts & 10 Hon Judges expressing in our favour.

iv) The task was formidable, it was Himalayan, years before, but thrilling victory was handed over to all of us by that historic judgement dt 12/1/2010 of TWIN BENEFITS TO PENSIONERS. AIRIEF flag was flying fullmast. It was an arduous & uphill task but each & every pensioner savoured of a Brave New World.

9) i) Normally in accounts,NPAs & some other items are written off.History cannot be erased. The saga of love, sacrifice by AIRIEF Office Bearers & Activists cannot be written off. Even Brahma, Vishnu & Shiva wont dare to write off. It was we who submitted the famous MOU dt 14/1/1994 between LIC Management & Unions announcing “SAME DR FOR PENSIONERS AS SAME DA FOR EMPLOYEES”. LIC is crucified with their own documents !! At this age, when AIRIEF was born, distant 5/12/1996, till today & more time to click & clock,AIRIEF is proud to tell & remind readers & viewers & all the whole world of elders & pensioners & others too, its Achievements & Accolades running into pages. AIRIEF in its 18 yrs worthy, fruitful existence, on time & with great preparation has planned, exchanged ideas & thoughts & wanting to successfully conduct, believe me the 9th Biennial GC on the dot & time at Bangalore. Few organizations or Pensioners Fedns can boast of such promptitude & willing to shoulder heavy responsibility assuredly for the future. Certainly growth pangs, ups & downs , swings of some apathy at times sets in, but overall, with pride, I can assert in all humility & modesty, the sterling successes, the superlative efforts , of contacts with top LIC management many times, & influence that matters with MOF silently undertaken.The famous Gratuity case of 3/2008 & 8/2008 in SC for retirement benefits to be paid on Revised salary after wage revision was yet another feather in the cap of our Kozhikode RIEA & later AIRIEF. The aftermath of this fup again at Jaipur HC where also LIC Appeal was dismissed is still being pickled by LIC even after our Lawyers notice to LIC. Class I Officers retired between 1/8/1992–31/3 1993 will get huge benefit once the deck is cleared, the numbers are few. Even the 75% rebate in mediclaim premium to pensioners, same as that of employees, in May 2010, Family Floater Policy mediclaim in May/June 2014, which is a great harbinger of peace, tranquillity & enormous mental peace as pensioners lacked finance to foot the big bill, that & that is a tremendous relief & a great great victory by securing major benefits delineated in our CO Demands , from LIC for which we are eternally grateful to them.

ii)When Pensioners organizations find it difficult to have many Units because of inherent & inbuilt weaknesses, old age, lack of volunteers, full time dedicated work & fup hard to commit, GS,AIRIEF & All India Organising Secretary did their best to spread tentacles to many corners of India. House Magazine Varistha Vaani Qly on dot radiating news & views. Salute AIRIEF, don’t denigrate AIRIEF & its leaders. In fact, the long long innings we are associated with have not been without tremors or quakes, but we successfully conquered all of them with confidence & courage. Which Pensioners Fedn has done such a yeoman service ? In India talkers are more, walk the talkers are nil.We in AIRIEF did announce plans , fup vigorously & culmination was a resounding success. Whether it is LIC Board Resolution, or letters/emails to Board Members then & now, fup face to face with them, whether it is dialogue with Chairman to EDP, the letter dt 31/12/2001 by LIC to Addl Secretary, MOF which strengthens Board Resolution & clinches the issue of pension upgradation at different CPI by successive mergers, dear friends, all these & many more were also because of our long long cherished meeting with ever so many Top dignitaries of LIC.

iii) Had not AIRIEF prepared many many years before in 1998/1999 itself Loss of Pension Chart for All cadres,this strong case & real liability for pensioners, experiencing such losses without a murmur,& such a fillip we gave by circulation, to all in MOF , they told us, we are faster than LIC in replies, gathering & collating of data & presenting it holistically.Appreciate that Insight & Foresight. You want to write off !! had the seed not been sown then , this sprout of a TWIN BENEFIT verdict would not have come. So too in 8/2003, 2/2009 & 5/2009 after our goading LIC letters & reminders to MOF. Memory is short . So we remind & reiterate at this important juncture.One should not be infatuated with ones journey for unity, but laced & coupled with acrimony & brickbats in the next sentence. Mature sensible leaders ignore any other offside events or happenings & like Arjuna, aim accurate with pinpoint precision with the bow of legal strategy at that critical turning point for TWIN BENEFITS submissions BY ALL THE 3 Jaipur, Chandigarh who will certainly plead for twin benefits as they fought for them & all based on Jaipur historic verdict only & Delhi HC coming as 3 SLPs converted as CAs.

10) i)We have an important role to play.We have to act as responsible people.We must not spread messages which will sink in others minds & making them believe & think bad of all of us & our worthy organization. AIRIEF has contributed in the past, is contributing in the present & will contribute in the future as well. I sincerely appeal to you all to forget & forgive, desist from any more public cry, live today to look into the ensuing legal battle in the final stages, prepare for the strategy, for which whatever AIRIEF has to contribute, it will play constructive role, & to see overall prestige & reputation of our organization grows & we serve as humble & valiant partners in progress of the pensioners movement & journey to a very bright future , by a sterling & memorable Victory . None will work against pensioners interests or welfare.

ii)Time is short. Please don’t raise any bogey any more. We all must treat all others as friends, not foes, as collaborators , not destroyers. I cannot indulge in polemics or personality baiting, direct or indirect, caustic or sarcastic or clothed in disdain. In fact, I wanted to keep mum.I was busy in preparing replies to LIC mammoth SLP 31925—31928/2013 & converted as CAs 5959-5962/2013 as it covers many intractable, legal areas, sleepless nights I had, toiling & tiring, consuming enormous time, as drafting is so difficult , an uncertain & hard terrain as LIC is cornering us all with difficult questions of great importance. I prepared my replies,sent them to KMLA in 2 long instalments.

iii) LOVE ALL, SERVE ALL . HELP EVER, HURT NEVER SRI SATYA SAI’s DICTUM BE FOLLOWED

LOVE IS AN EMBLEM OF ETERNITY.

LOVE IS A HANDSHAKE, AVOID CLENCHED FISTS.

AVOID COUNTERS , AVOID REJOINDERS IN THE LAST LAP OF JOURNEY.

IN THE LAND OF THE BUDDHA OR THE MAHATMA , LET US PURSUE ONLY LOFTY IDEALS, CEMENT OUR STRENGTHS & DO ALL WE CAN TO ENSURE QUICKER REACH OF THE ROAD TO FINAL VICTORY.


GREETINGS, GOOD LUCK & GODSPEED,

R.B.KISHORE

VP,AIRIEF

CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS IN PUNJAB & HARYANA H C IN CHANDIGARH

LIC counsel informed the court that the corporation is making necessary calculations of the amounts payable to the petitioners. Amounts will be deposited in the court in six weeks time. Details will follow.

RK VISWANATHAN'S COMMENTS ON MURTY'S CHENNAI VISIT

Dear Editor,

• I do not wish to jump into the bandwagon of critics and indulge in unnecessary criticism of some one who tries to do something good which unfortunately has been misunderstood or rather not understood properly.
• Knowing so well Sreenivasa Murty as we were colleagues in Hyderabad DO, I paid a courtesy call on 4th in the Hotel he checked in. 
• His to-and-fro journey from Hyderabad is by air and he stayed in a hotel and the expenses involved were not a little amount and this he does to every place he

  

  Voice raised to stress point is misunderstood; in courts,there's
  no DISCUSSION but only ARGUMENTS...
  

  visited in the past for his unity mission.
• All these expenses should have created a hole in his pocket and I was wondering why should he do so.
• During my talk with him which was vivid I could understand that his one point agenda is to put up a united front on 12TH AUGUST in the SC when the Bench sits.
• I could presume from his talk that all that what so far he was doing with personal inconvenience are in general for the success in the litigation with no more adjournments and suspense which should be welcomed.
• Murty by nature is vociferous which should not be misunderstood. 
• As long as the actions are genuine without any malafide intentions it does not matter who does it and to what association he belongs. 

RK VISWANATHAN

NO COLD WAR BETWEEN CHANDIGARH AND JAIPUR

Dear Editor,

Mr Iyengar in his write up in the LICPC has inter alia, observed as under:-

"What is detriment to the purpose of unity is the wide perception prevailing about the seemingly wave of cold war between Chandigarh and Jaipur leaders and I wish this perception is misplaced." YES IT IS MISPLACED.

• In this connection, without entering into any further debate but just to clarify, I have to tell Sh. Iyengar that there is some misunderstanding amongst the pensioners about Chandigarh, in fact there has never been any wave of any cold war between Chandigarh unit of AIRIEF and Jaipur, rather it is Chandigarh which has been, and is doing and will continue to do every thing possible in support of Jaipur. Its whole leadership and all pensioners irrespective of the class, cadre or assn. have been generously contributing to the legal fund both to AIRIEF & Sh KML Asthana and and this campaign will continue. 

However please be informed that there are only 2-3 petitioners handling the PB & Hry High Court Chandigarh case, who may have some difference of opinion & line of action vis-a-vis Jaipur.

CHANDIGARH IS PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH AIRIEF AND THEIR SOLID SUPPORT TO SH ASTHANA, JAIPUR.

WITH BEST WISHES AND REGARDS, 

H K AGGARWAL 

MEMBER, CHANDIGARH UNIT OF AIRIEF. 

SC FORMED SEPARATE BENCH FOR HEARING CASES INVOLVING SR. CITIZENS?

Dear Sir

Please go through the text of mail received as below about a Separate Supreme Court Bench to hear Cases filed by Sr. Citizens.

Regards

VK BHASIN

100% DA Case

Civil Appeal 8420-21/2013 filed by Sri Kasthurirangan & Others

One Member from Hydrabad informs that wef 1/7/2014, the Supreme Court has formed a separate Bench for hearing the Cases of Senior Citizens and he has forecast the above Appeal may be listed during Sept-Oct.
Lawyers handling the above Case have not yet received any information on the date of Listing. The Terminal List/Advance List/Cause List of the SC also does not bear the Case number to corroborate this view. Though the Appellants are Super-Senior Pensioners, the Case is always categorized as "SERVICE MATTERS" at all Courts causing inordinate delay in getting Justice accelerating anguish in the minds of thousands of elderly Pensioners who retired before 1/11/2002. However, it is gathered the Banks have been issued Notice.
Any further developments will be updated as soon as we receive the News!

(Transfer Petition filed by SBI for transferring WPs/WAs of SBI Pensioners at Madras High Court has been posted in the Supreme Court for hearing on 18/7/2014).

SP SOOD IN CRITICAL CONDITION

SH. S P SOOD, GS, CHANDIGARH UNIT OF AIRIEF, WHO HAS BEEN SUFFERING FROM THE DEADLY DISEASE FOR THE LAST OVER A YEAR, IS NOW GONE IN A CRITICAL CONDITION FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS. DESPITE BEING IN AN UNCONSCIOUS STATE HE IS EXHIBITING HIS STRONG WILL POWER BY BLINKERING HIS EYES SOMETIMES - THUS GIVING HOPE FOR A MIRACLE TO HAPPEN - MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS ALL WISH. LETS JOIN THEM & PRAY FOR HIS SPEEDY RECOVERY.

REGARDS,

H K Aggarwal

T SAMPATH IYENGAR

"Mr.LSRK Rao would be rendering great service to the retired 

community of LIC pensioners if he puts all his energy and persuasive skills to 

bring these two group leaders to file one-point-plea before the SC and not 

concentrate on diversionary issues.

I request Sri LSRK Rao to take up this task with missionary zeal 

and effectively contribute to the unity move and earn LIC pensioners 

appreciation and importantly self satisfaction",

WRITES T. SAMPATH IYENGAR

From the exchanges between LSRK Rao, MSM and CHM it appears Mr. LSRK Rao has some definite notions about some persons and the unity moves. His feeling that without GNS amending the affidavit to include upgradation, unity move will be without hope or cannot be achieved. 

Mr.Rao must have known that the Delhi HC judgment is based on the Jaipur Judgment which includes upgradation and even GNS stands for DA neutralisation alone and insists on implementation of Delhi High Court judgment no harm would be caused to others demanding both the benefits. What is detriment to the purpose of unity is the wide perception prevailing about the seemingly wave of cold war between Chandigarh and Jaipur leaders and I wish this perception is misplaced.

Mr. Rao would be rendering great service to the retired community of LIC pensioners if he puts all his energy and persuasive skills to bring these two group leaders to file one-point-plea before the SC and not concentrate on diversionary issues.

I request Sri LSRK Rao to take up this task with missionary zeal and effectively contribute to the unity move and earn LIC pensioners appreciation and importantly self satisfaction.


T SAMPATH IYENGAR

BANGALORE

Dear sir,

I have seen in the columns of Chronicle, a message given by Shri M S Murty much about my message in Chronicle. I must thank especially thank the Editor for the tremendous work he is doing for the past 2 years (as I know) to convey the feelings of pensioners.

I am always of the firm opinion that all the pensioners at the fag end our life should not criticise or comment each other. There are two organisations that are fighting for the cause of pensioners. I belong AIRIEF and I am having indomitable faith in my organisation and also in the leadership which I made it clear in the columns of Chronicle. I stand by it.

I am not a leader, I am only a member. I am only having enough experience in AIIEA and I learnt lessons from them. Our fight whenever it is absolutely necessary will always have a plan and our goal is always known to us.

To be in brief, Shri Srinivasa Murty announced his goal to bring Unity among the organisations.  I am happy with his move. He once visited Chennai and I remember that he met Shri GNS and also Shri RBK.

Suddenly, Shri Murty handed over a memorandum to Smt. Nirmala Sitaraman on our pensioners issues declaring himself (Sreenivasa Murty, Mulukutla) as Convenor, Representative Committee of LIC Pensioners’ Associations, I had a genuine doubt and inquired him what were the names of the organizations that he was representing ? Shri Murthy replied to dial him after 7 p.m. or give my number so that he can dial me.

• Mr. Murthy is my senior in the college and also in LIC. It is not fair on my part to give my number, so, I have not given. (A copy of my letter is also placed in the chronicle.)

Shri MSM ignored it and I am also not pertinent on my point as it is not a serious matter.

Shri Murthy made a mention in the Chronicle: NEW HOPE ON THE HORIZON - NEW COMPELLING NEED FOR UNITY OF APPROACH. Shri Murthy stated in his write up as follows:

I have sought time to meet and talk to Shri GN Sridharan on 3rd and 4th July at Chennai. No points to score. Only facilitation is the Mission. And persuasion, the tool. I pray for similar efforts with and within AIRIEF.

Shri Murthy made a mention of the two organisation Shri GNS and AIRIEF. I felt that Mr.Murthy is discussing with the leaders of the two organisations and I am very much inclined to hear it. But after reading the last three ‘paras’ of his letter I felt that I have totally mistaken.

• “If the selected small group to which his mails are marked is the other Party, let him and his friends know that I have written them off several weeks ago. Who is listening to whom even within that group? If they are not, do I waste my time to want to talk to them? 
• "Now, as you kindly suggested, let this questioning-specialist take the initiative to make his people sit for discussion, if he can. In jaipur, in Delhi, in Chennai, in Hyderabad or in Nuzvid. If it happens, all his questions will be answered publicly. He should also be ready to answer my questions. 
• "As to my Unity efforts, I am not eager to please anybody by doing or not doing anything. I am absolutely sure of what I am doing. Either I will succeed (most probably) and help the cause of Pensioners or I will definitely expose all wrong doers and their wrong doings seriously jeopardizing the Pensioners' interests. As I said always, I have my plan B and plan C. They will unfold when the time comes.” 

With regards,

L S R KRISHNA RAO

 

MY FURTHER RESPONSE TO MR. LSR KRISHNA RAO'S POST

"All pensioners will be happy to know any action 

plan that can be proposed by MR.KRISHNA RAO 

and be got successfully executed as an alternative to 

the endeavours made/being made by Mr.M.S. Murty 

solely for the common good of all LIC pensioners....",

 writes CH MAHADEVAN.

A JOURNEY TOWARDS PENSIONERS SOLUTION

An old adage says that temple pujari’s blessings are required before God could bless. 

Though it is laudable that several attempts and some more in offing were made to convince the higher ups in the Finance Ministry about the plight of the LIC pensioners which is expected to yield some result it is the Secretary ( Finance ) who rules the roost.

Finance Secretary's notes...

It could be expected that the Finance Ministry, to follow the usual procedure, would ask the Secretary ( Finance ) to put up the file with his note or rather his recommendations. If the note is positive in our favor, the sailing will be smooth. But should there be any adverse noting it becomes turbulent. 

So the Pujari, in this context, the Secretary (Finance ) is the one who has to be convinced. Could there be any possibility of this happening! 

It is reliably understood that a Note was prepared by the Secretary (Finance) and sent to the former Finance Minister for his approval and the FM left the ministry without taking action on the Note. During his tenure he praised LIC's growth in many fabulous words such as " LIC is a brand name.,Navaratna among the PSUs" but put up a cold shoulder when it came to the Pensioner's lawful and legitimate demands endorsed by several courts and knowing well that justice is on the pensioners side.

R.K.Viswanathan

The piece of land and the model !

NO INTEREST IN SHRI LSRK RAO'S AGENDA, WRITES SHRI MURTY.

Dear Editor,

Mr LSRK had sent me a personal Email some days ago which I promptly replied. (Letter reproduced below.) Asked for his contact number and offered to call and talk to him to answer some of his questions. There was NO response. I was not surprised. I left it there. 

His latest questionnaire on my Unity efforts through the Chronicle (and not satisfied with Shri C H Mahadevan's clarification) was ignored by me as I could clearly see his 'tongue in the cheek' attempt. I have no interest in his agenda.

Mr LSRK writes: "Shri Srinivas Murty wants to have a meeting with both the parties in Madras on 3rd and 4th of this month. I can have an answer and my anxiety to have an answer could also bring forth the idea and perception of Shri M S Murthy the Polestar of Unity move". 

First of all I don't understand what was his question. Do you? Then where from he got the news that I want "to have a meeting with both the parties in Madras on 3rd and 4th of this month"? Which is the other Party? Is Mr LSRK the official mouth piece of that other party?

If the selected small group to which his mails are marked is the other Party, let him and his friends know that I have written them off several weeks ago. Who is listening to whom even within that group? If they are not, do I waste my time to want to talk to them?

Now, as you kindly suggested, let this questioning-specialist take the initiative to make his people sit for discussion, if he can. In jaipur, in Delhi, in Chennai, in Hyderabad or in Nuzvid. If it happens, all his questions will be answered publicly. He should also be ready to answer my questions.

As to my Unity efforts, I am not eager to please anybody by doing or not doing anything. I am absolutely sure of what I am doing. Either I will succeed (most probably) and help the cause of Pensioners or I will definitely expose all wrong doers and their wrong doings seriously jeopardizing the Pensioners' interests. As I said always, I have my plan B and plan C. They will unfold when the time comes.

Sreenivasa Murty Mulukutla

1. Reply to Shri LSRK reproduced below:-

"On Wednesday, June 11, 2014 4:56 PM, Sreenivasa Murty Mulukutla wrote:

Dear Sri LSR, 

Thank you for your personal mail. 

I know you for a long time though we have not been in touch. KKD and I know each other very well even before we joined LIC (we were both students of Hindu College Machilipatnam). 

Your mail or the questions have not hurt me at all, as your doubt is very genuine. Many others also got this doubt - some have kept it to themselves and some explained it away to themselves and even others. Some wrote sarcastic emails. You are the only one person who did a favor to me by asking me straight. I am obliged to you, honestly.

Now, I will answer your question if you permit me, on phone. Can I have your contact Number pl? I will be free to talk after 7.00 PM today. You may suggest any other time that suits you."

2. An appeal to pensioners community "In the name of GOD pray one and all of LIC pensioners community with folded hands to stop criticizing one another...." (and now a sudden volte-face) reproduced below.

written with "folded hands"!

     

personally speaking...

In my view, at this stage there is no need to submit lengthy 

memorandums or appeals as the crux of the problem is negative 

attitude of the Ministry of Finance for the last over many 

years not to allow LIC of India to exceed to the legally 

valid demands of pensioners despite High Courts orders which 

have not been granted any stay by the Supreme Court, we 

should now persuade the Finance Minister only to issue directions

 to LIC of India (1) to honor judgments of the three 

Hon’ble High Courts in letter & spirit, (2) not to unnecessary 

file appeals in High Courts/Supreme Court in view of Litigation Policy 

of Govt. of India. The bureaucracy of the Ministry of Finance 

must also be immediately contacted giving reference of leaders 

meeting with the FM in order to get early positive results, 

or otherwise let the Supreme Court take its own time to finally 

decide pensioners fate,

WRITES SHRI HK AGGARWAL.

Dear Editor,

Can a financial institution like L.I.C. of India dare to defy or not comply with the High Court’s orders which have not been stayed by Supreme Court even.

The answer is Yes, as is evident in the case of LIC of India which is not honouring orders of Hon'ble Rajasthan High Court, Jaipur (LIC v/s KML Asthana), Punjab & Haryana High Court Chandigarh (LIC v/s M.L. Gandhi & others) and Delhi High Court (LIC v/s LIC Class-1 Retired Officers Federation), instead is preferring appeals and prolonging legal proceedings just to keep the issue in the cold – leaving old pensioners shivering and dying for the last 15 years.

Such an act is possible only when the GOD Father has hold on some of the actions of the Financial Institutions. For that matter LIC of India is under the direct control of Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India (though in pensioners case the Jaipur High Court has ruled otherwise).

Many of our pensioner friends and Associations have been meeting the Ministers & MPs of the new NDA Govt. placing before them their legal demands of up gradation of pension and removal of DR anomaly. Good appreciable efforts.

In my view, at this stage there is no need to submit lengthy memorandums or appeals as the crux of the problem is negative attitude of the Ministry of Finance for the last over many years not to allow LIC of India to exceed to the legally valid demands of pensioners despite High Courts orders which have not been granted any stay by the Supreme Court, we should now persuade the Finance Minister only to issue directions to LIC of India (1) to honor judgments of the three Hon’ble High Courts in letter & spirit, (2) not to unnecessary file appeals in High Courts/Supreme Court in view of Litigation Policy of Govt. of India. The bureaucracy of the Ministry of Finance must also be immediately contacted giving reference of leaders meeting with the FM in order to get early positive results, or otherwise let the Supreme Court take its own time to finally decide pensioners fate.

HK AGGARWAL

We are publishing the letter from Shri LSRK Rao.  
There is nothing wrong in raising the doubts/comments like 
(1) "Then the purpose of UNIFIED ACTION a MIRAGE?" 
(2) "What happened to the Unity Struggles of Shri MSM?" etc.

It is a welcome initiative that Shri Rao has been intervening
 in the matter and constantly asking questions.  

His mails are seen marked to

Seetha And Kishore (rbkseetha@yahoo.com);  
Madhava rao (madhava36@yahoo.com);
 KML ASTHANA (asthanajaipur40@gmail.com); 
vcindore@gmail.com (vcindore@gmail.com); 
hkaggarwal36@yahoo.com (hkaggarwal36@yahoo.com); 
pggangadharan@hotmail.com (pggangadharan@hotmail.com).

It is felt that Shri Rao could collect the responses from the side of the Federation in the

matter and come out with proposals/terms for unity talks, so that the pensioners would be

able to know what comes in the way of unity as proposed and Federation's views

in the matter.   In addition to Shri Murty, we will welcome Shri LSRK Rao also to do the 

mediation role. - Ed. 

Sir,

I have to thank Shri Mahadevan for his reply in response to my doubts on the Unity move of Shri MSM.

Shri Mahadevan has given a reply in response to my letter, but the reply is evasive and vague. A reply is given for the sake of reply? How UNITY becomes possible without unified demand? He says the purpose for united action is different, how it could be possible without the inclusion or amendment of the affidavit of Shri GNS?

Then the purpose for UNIFIED ACTION a MIRAGE?

Shri Ch. Mahadevan mentions that in his opinion the demands of Shri MSM are as possible viz:

· 1. Removal of DR anomaly from 1/11/1993 or date of retirement, whichever is later, for pre-August 1997 retirees and 100% D.R. neutralization w.e.f 1/8/1997 with upgradation of pension;

·2. Revision of pension for pre-Aug 1997 retirees on subsequent wage revision dates also from 1/8/2002 and 1/8/2007; and

· 3. Upgradation and revision of pension for all post- July 1997 retirees also.

But, the demands of Shri GNS are different and so far as we know Shri GNS did not amend his demands or did not submit modified affidavit. In such a situation where is the possibility for a UNITED ACTION on the D DAY 12 08 2014 in the Supreme Court of India?

What happened to the Unity Struggles of Shri MSM?

All are intellectuals then a solution can be arrived at with a definite plan but not with a different view point  which seems to be absurd  at the present moment?

With greetings,

L S R KRISHNA RAO

Dear Mr Gangadharan,

In response to the post of Mr. L.S.R.Krishna Rao, I wish to submit my views on some of the points as follows:

I wish to assure Mr Krishna Rao that the Unity moves pursued by Mr M.Sreenivasa Murty, as I understand through my interactions with him, is undoubtedly towards securing for the pensioners the following:

• 1. Removal of DR anomaly from 1/11/1993 or date of retirement, whichever is later, for pre-August 1997 retirees and 100% D.R. neutralization w.e.f 1/8/1997 with upgradation of pension;
• 2. Revision of pension for pre-Aug 1997 retirees on subsequent wage revision dates also from 1/8/2002 and 1/8/2007; and
• 3. Upgradation and revision of pension for all post- July 1997 retirees also.

All the above three objectives will be achieved, if all the three sets of petitioners pray unitedly to the Supreme Court on the date of the next combined hearing in the second week of August 2014 for directions to LIC to implement the respective High Court orders which have been refused to be stayed by the Apex Court, if the disposal of the Civil Appeals is likely to take more time.

If the Supreme Court accepts such prayers from all the three sets of petitioners, LIC will have no other alternative but to implement the three High Court judgments which are already binding on LIC. If and when that happens, all the above three objectives will be fulfilled.
Mr Sreenivasa Murty’s ‘Mission Unity’ is only directed towards that goal. It is upto the three sets of petitioners to collaborate in the matter lest LIC and the GOI should take advantage of the differing approaches of the three sets of petitioners and adopt dilatory tactics.

With greetings,

C H Mahadevan

WILL SHRI MS MURTY, POLESTAR OF UNITY MOVE, REPLY ?

I could see an article published late last night by no less a person than Shri M S MURTY, the pioneer for unity move among the Retired Insurance Pensioners’ Associations. I requested him through the columns of this Chronicle the names of the organizations for which he is representing as the Convener. I could not hear it so far.

Now, he has written a message I can say to all the pensioners under the following caption: "NEW HOPE ON THE HORIZON - NEW COMPELLING NEED FOR UNITY OF APPROACH".

I appreciate on one point that Shri S V Jejurikara along with Shri Pramod Bhatnagar met Shri Arun Jaitely on 29th June 2014 by 01 45 P.M. in the Minister’s Chamber and appraised the LIC Pensioners’ problems and this is appreciated by Shri M S MURTY which is good.

From the past 4 months he is speaking of Unity Move. It is but natural for a layman like me to know what are his proposals and he speaks of Plan 1, Plan 2 and Plan 3. Out of my curiosity it is but natural to ask him time and again.

To my little brain one Shri GNS organization had some legal cases and Shri Asthana has also filed cases against L I C. Above all, in the legal front, Shri GNS and Shri Asthana are there. Let us observe their demands before we could think of Unity.

• Shri GNS is a Senior advocate and his demand is 1) Cent Per Cent Neutralization of DA to the L I C Pensioners retired before 1997; 

• So far as Shri Asthana is concerned he is having two demands -  Cent Per Cent neutralisation of DA for pre 1997 retirees and also revision of pension with every wage raise almost One Rank One Pension.

I am not able to understand whether GNS will include in his affidavit the Revision of Pension with every wage raise in LIC along with the existing employees OR does he mean that Shri Asthana should give up his 2nd demand for the sake of Unity?

In Bharatham there are two ‘Rayabharam’ one Sanjaya and the other Lord Krishna. Shri Sanjaya let us be united give up the demand for any province or Kingdom. Lord Krishna said let Pandavas and Kouravas have equal Share.

Let us be clear in bringing the Unity for inclusion or exclusion of a demand for Revision of pension?

Can I have a answer from the experts or from Shri M S Murty?

Shri Srinivas Murty wants to have a meeting with both the parties in Madras on 3rd and 4th
of this month. I can have an answer and my anxiety to have an answer could also
bring forth the idea and perception of Shri M S  Murthy the Polestar of Unity move.

With regards and respects,
L S R Krishna Rao

MISSION UNITY

This is in response to latest post from Sreenivasa Murty in LIC Pensioners chronicle. 

First, let me place on record my deep appreciations for untiring and selfless efforts put by Sh. Sreenivasa Murty for his Mission Unity for the last more than three months. The net result of his sincere and honest efforts is a big zero.

Sh. Murty was knowing it very clearly that said mission is extremely difficult yet he has proved his determination and courage to make an attempt. The reason for this silence despite listening clearly and loudly is very hard positioning of fixed mind set, inflated ego and tendency to emerge as the only champion in credit war amongst so called heroes of two different camps fighting legal battle on behalf of LIC Pensioners community.

Let us pray to Almighty that ultimately it is the whole LIC PENSIONERS community which finally wins whether through Supreme court or through regular meetings and continuous follow up with political masters and bureaucrats being done by various channels after change of GOI at Centre. Let us convey our thanks and best wishes to all such persons who are seriously engaged in this noble cause of Uniform DA for pre 01.08.1997 retirees and pension upgradation for all LIC Pensioners.

BRMehta

Panchkula

NEW HOPE ON THE HORIZON - NEW COMPELLING NEED FOR UNITY OF APPROACH.

Mr Jejurikar's meeting with the Minister for Finance, as per the details reported to the Chronicle by Mr Agnihotri, is the best news for LIC Pensioners, in the recent past, because it was Mr Arun Jaitley, who was met and who promised action. THAT IS WHERE THE BUCK STOPS after all. We should all thank Mr Jejurikar for handling the matter so well.

The most basic of all human needs is the need to 
understand and be understood. The best way to
understand people is to listen to them.
D-DAY 12TH AUG GIVES A UNIQUE
OPPORTUNITY; SO IS MURTY'S VISIT.
He only says, why not we have a joint fight
against LIC and UOI.

Meanwhile, I discovered something of relevance regarding the D-day before the Supreme Court. Contrary to the general belief, the matter posted for 12th August 2014 is the Civil Appeals Nos 8959-8962 /2013 by LIC against KML Asthana and others and this date (having been allotted long before) has nothing to do with SC Proceedings dated 04/04/2014 in IA No 3 in CA No 9223 / 2013 filed by Shri G N Sridharan. There is no big impact due to this discovery, except that the SC Registry is yet to act on the Bench proceedings of 04/04/2014. Eventually, all three CAs shall be posted together on any day between 11th August and 14th August 2014. It could also be 12th August. The actual date should be known only around 1st August 2014.

While we wait with bated breath for the D-day before the Supreme Court, 7th July would pass in Chandigarh HC and so would 21st July in Jaipur - routinely and with no miracles happening at either place. Scene of action has to necessarily move to the Hon’ble Supreme Court.

On the other hand, we could certainly hope for our files in the Ministry of Finance getting dusted in the meantime, thanks to the several Memorandums submitted to different political heavy weights, latest and the most important being the one submitted to the FM himself.

Going by the responses of the Ministers who heard the Pensioners, some sort of formal and serious dialogue between LIC & Government AND Pensioners (obviously with the Organizations representing them) can be expected during the coming weeks. The occasion demands that the Organizations and the leaders heading them give up their 'touch me not' approach, sit together, form a common united front and present a strong case for the LIC Pensioners before the powers that be. Such a united approach if not a common front, is already the need of the hour, well before the D-day in the Supreme Court.

I have sought time to meet and talk to Shri GN Sridharan on 3rd and 4th July at Chennai. No points to score. Only facilitation is the Mission. And persuasion, the tool.  I pray for similar efforts with and within AIRIEF. 

The Prayer is addressed to everyone, whoever is listening.

Sreenivasa Murty, Mulukutla

Hyderabad 

MP AGNIHOTRI'S LETTER

Dear Sirs,

Re: Meeting with Hon’ble Finance minister- Shri Arun Jaitley.

Founder member and Patron of RIEA, Bhopal Shri S V Jejurikar, who has been in close contact of Shri Arun Jaitley for last several years, sought permission to have a personal meeting while congratulating him on his taking over as the Finance Minister. Shri Jaitley, whom Shri Jejurikar along with Shri M R Sundaram (Retd. ED) had once approached for resolution of LIC Pensioners dual issues of DR Anomaly & Pension Updation, assured of the personal meeting as soon as he settles in the office and accordingly the meeting for 29th June ‘14 was fixed. It was informed by the Personal Secretary that only one person would accompany Shri Jejurikar. Keeping advance age of Shri S V Jejurikar (Shri Jejurikar is 83 plus) our Gen Secy Shri V C Jain advised that it would be proper that someone from Bhopal accompanies him. Accordingly Shri Pramod Bhatnagar, Jt. Secy RIEA Bhopal joined him.

On 29th June, 2014 Shri S V Jejurkar and Shri Pramod Bhatnagr met Shri Arun Jaitley at 1-45 PM. After exchange of greetings and some personal information Shri Jejurikar unfolded the envelope and immediately Shri Jaitley asked whether it is LIC pensioners’ representation. Shri Jejurikar asserted and handed over the representation and informed him about the twin issues of DR Anomaly and Pension Updation, LIC Board Resolution, Consecutive Court decisions in favour of the pensioners and still no relief to the hapless retired employees who contributed their best to build this mighty organisation as they are embroiled in SC on one or the other pretext by LIC. Shri Jejurikar urged for an early and favourable solution of the dual grievances by kind intervention of Hon’ble Finance Minister. Shri Jailtley gave a patient hearing and took some notings on the representation. He assured that he will collect the details of the issues from the department (Finance Ministry) and take up the matter with the Chairman, LIC. If necessary, he would invite representatives of LIC pensioners also.
.

Regards,

M P Agnihotri,

Secretary, RIEA, Bhopal.

Dear Sir,

Good news to LIC pensioners, I have received a copy of
a letter of M P Agnihotri, Secretary, RIEA, Bhopal.

In the letter he has informed that Sh Jejurkar, founder 

member and patron of RIEA and Sh Pramod
Bhatnagar, Joint Secretary, RIEA Bhopal have met
Sh Arun Jaitely on 29 06 2014 at 1 45 pm and submitted 

memorandum regarding DR Anomaly and Pension Updation,

LIC Board Resolution, our success in HC and SC and 
informed him that it has not met with  any positive response 
from LIC and the Government of India.

FM gave a patient hearing and took notings on the representation.

He assured he will collect details from ministry of
finance and take up the matter with the Chairman LIC.

If necessary he will invite the representatives of LIC pensioners.
This is a good sign and let us hope for some fruitful outcome.

A V Subbaraman Coimbatore Division

T SAMPATH IYENGAR

Read the 'writing on the wall'.

Mr Srinivasa Murthy's statement " not a day passes without new grounds being covered " towards a united approach before Supreme Court on the 12th August is reassuring, but we see no visible signs of the same. We do not know the thinking of Asthanaji and AIRIEF. Perhaps Mr Murthy may have an inkling of it. But what about us, the poor anxious pensioners, who have no access to leaders of any group. 

• Can some one tell us about the grounds covered towards united fight. 
• We do not know what the 480 pages of LIC submission for SC contains - atleast a gist of it would do. 
• Is LIC insisting that the resolution passed should be approved by the Government though this contention is disallowed in clear terms by the Jaipur HC judgment.
• If the united petition of all the stake holder petitioners is on one point of implementation of the 3 HCs judgments then the merits of the case may not be considered at this stage and as SC itself has refused to grant stay of any of the judgments, there is a good possibility of a positive direction in this regard by the SC. It is here that the importance of united approach lies which needs to be realised by all concerned.

Approach to Government too would be more effective if all the LIC pensioners unions come together and seek appointment with Prime Minister and Finance Minister than submitting petitions to individual MPs/Miniasters. PRAY BETTER WISDOM BE DAWN ON OUR LEADERS.

T SAMPATH IYENGAR

BANGALORE