PROBLEM WITH TIME FEATURE OF THE BLOG...

Shri BR Mehta telephoned the Editor why the time format of the blog is showing wrong time. It was explained to him that after uploading  at 3.42pm the news of adjourning of our case to next Thursday, 17th March 2016, we tried to switch on our time showing feature which is not functional for a few days now. The problem continues to persist. We are trying to rectify the defect. Our grateful thanks to Shri Mehta for pointing out the mistake in time being shown by the blog.

(Time feature of the blog is now rectified. Our thanks to Shri Bhaktavalsarao for pointing out the mistake in date of next hearing which was wrongly shown as 11th March instead of the correct date Thursday 17th March 2016. -Ed.)

CAUSE LIST FOR 10TH MARCH

Dear Editor, 

We are on board. At SL No 104. Two part-heard matters of the previous day (today) and one 'List on top' matter' like ours, are before us. Bench sits whole day. Touch & go. 

NO ASTROLOGICAL PREDICTIONS FROM THE COMFORTS OF YOUR DRAWING ROOMS PLEASE. WE DO HARD WORK HERE AND YOU PRAY HARD FOR ALL PENSIONERS. TOGETHER WE SUCCEED.


M Sreenivasa Murty
Camp: New Delhi

Click below

Way to "Heaven" successfully shown

9 Mar 16, 01:00 PM v.s.rajamani: Mr.Mahadevan ji, you have successfully shown the way to "Heaven". Definitely on 10th March we are getting a favourable verdict from SC. God Bless everybody.

Puzzle

Answer for the puzzle.

Since you don't know which gate leads to heaven and which one to hell, and also don't know who tells the truth and who tells the lie, you have to put a question to one of the guards asking him what the other guard will point out to the gate, if he is asked to show the gate of heaven. When the guard points out to that gate, you simply choose the other gate that lead you to heaven.

TS.Venkataraman

Time to meet astrologer

9 Mar 16, 11:43 AM

B. Ganga Raju: 

To Respected Myself C/O. Editor.

Your puzzle. Does not matter if it is a puzzle or muddle. 

Remember probability? Toss a coin the moment you have your " sankalpa," or wish. If it is Heads proceed. If it is Tails, think of another time. Next time you meet your astrologer find out his working hours and availability in person. Or better wait at his home till he appears. 

• Heads you win and tails also you win. For things won't wait for astrologers. 10th March is at our doorstep and does not wait for astrolger to arrive or be available. Suryagrahan is over and let us think the grahan for our case would be over.

ANSWER TO VS RAJAMANI'S PUZZLE

I got the following solution by googling:

Solution to the Heaven or Hell Puzzle

The question you should ask is “If I ask the other guard about which
side leads to heaven, what would he answer?” It should be fairly easy
to see that irrespective of whom do you ask this question, you will
always get an answer which leads to hell. So you can chose the other
path to continue your journey to heaven.

This idea was famously used in the 1986 film Labyrinth.

Here is the explanation if it is yet not clear.

Let us assume that the East facing door leads to heaven.

If you ask the guard which speaks truth about which gate leads to
heaven, as he speaks always the truth, he
would say “East ”. Now that the liar, when he is asked what “the other
guard (truth teller)” would answer, he would definitely say “West ”.

Similarly, if you ask the liar about which gate leads to heaven, he
would say “West”. As the truth teller speaks nothing but the truth, he
would say “West” when he is asked what “the other guard( liar ) ”
would answer. So in any case, you would end up having the gate to
hell as an answer. So you can choose the other gate as a way to
heaven..


Greetings.
C H Mahadevan

Time to meet astrologer

VS RAJAMANI

In a lighter vein

Dear Editor,

Having dealt with most of the likely impediments and complexities of our case already, I have been wondering what tips one can offer our leaders to face the TRAIL on 10th of this month.

Let me take Mr.Asthana at the outset. He should try and fix up a counsel whose father or mother is not awaiting an imminent surgery. In order that they are fortified in their capacity to argue out our case, they may be asked to hone their legal skills by reading Amartya Sen’s “ The

Argumentative Indian” and “The Idea of Justice”, prior to appearing in the Supreme Court. Since the three of them have problem facing one another, but all the same want to share their opinions, a ‘mock hearing’ could be enacted and video clipping of the same forwarded to both Mr.GNS and MSM. Both Mr.GNS and MSM can replicate a similar exercise. This is bound to help them present a unified front in the Apex Court on 10th. His Senior Advocate can use the ‘brief’ provided by their VC from Chennai, when in doubt, and hopefully be ready with his arguments for the NEXT hearing! Mr.Asthana can wear on his shirt the message “hero of three Jaipur H.C decisions”:wearing one's heart on ones sleeves, perhaps!. He can take Mr.Ramanathan along with him, who will tackle whenever the spectre of Sec.38 raises its ugly head and pass on the nitty-gritty of legal secrets to the Sr.counsel as and when required. His friends must ensure a seat for him in the front bench, close enough to the BENCH.

It is said that genius is 99% perspiration and one percent inspiration. It is heard that the secret of Mr.Sridharan’s success is the superior quality of betel-leaves and nuts he is using. He should

select the best variety from Chennai itself and bring it to Delhi in abundance so that it inspires him to not only deal with the remnants of the DR issue but also evince a favourable inclination towards Up-gradation. Being a pacifist himself, having a clean image (white and white) he may not pose any threat to the other two in the court room. Only being a DR specialist, he can conveniently take a back seat and enjoy the proceedings.

Our friend MSM is advised to bring a stand-by counsel to take the place of his regular Advocate, in case of the counsel’s unannounced absence to avoid any possible embarrassment on that score and consequent adjournment. He must not forget to bring his ‘black coat’, beautifully laundered to impress the Judge. Being a person wedded to ‘yoga’ and meditation, he can try a totally fresh approach to our problem in the court. He can bring Mr.Mahadevan along, who once the verdict is in our favour , will come out with not less than three different computations, whether it be DR arrears or updated pension arrears. We can choose whichever is the maximum. If wishes were horses, who would not like

to ride?!

In the 18th chapter (last one) of Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna, teaches Arjuna about Karma,

Jnana,Mukti etc. The Lord finally tells Arjuna, the ultimate objective of all this is to realise the ‘antaryami’, the one who resides within everyone of us or in short self-realisation. We are going to face one more final hearing on 10th. The time has come for self–realisation for all our three leaders. Who knows , they may not get another opportunity. So, take full control of yourselves on 10th March and do your very best. The above attempt by me is to water down the intensity of the seriousness of what is awaiting all the pensioners on March 10th and induct a light-heartedness into the event. We have no doubt in our minds, that you are the three best in this business and you will deliver the goods on the appointed day. Good Luck.

With Greetings,
M.V.VENUGOPALAN

Barkha Datta's Speech

Click below

Unpleasant truth !

Agnihotri's statement not the whole truth

I have seen Shri Agnihotri's statement just published in Chronicle. His statement inter alia mentions "AIRIEF has been demanding for the ‘Pensioners Portal’ on the lines as it is provided for others viz. employees, Developments Officers, Agents, etc. where the pensioner may have access to the details like address, nomination, amount of pension paid, commuted value availed, date of restoration of commuted pension, etc.; in addition to other particulars like various forms and group mediclaim policy, etc. What you have referred to is the part of ‘Down Load Forms’ where pensioner’s page is provided, which contains forms etc. for the use of pensioners and that is not the ‘Pensioners Portal’.

I am just able to locate certain information from Chronicle archives, precisely, Shri Angurajan's report on the Federation's meeting with the Chairman of LIC of India Shri DK Mehrotra published on 28th March 2013 in PC. This statement mentions the following details:-

" Pensioners Portal - Chairman gladly agreed to the same. It is believed, portal will serve several purposes and will be helpful to Office, pensioners and pensioner organizations.

Pensioners List with address. - Pensioners Portal will take care and efforts are taken to introduce and operate soon.

Central Office Circulars pertaining to pensioners - will be posted to Web site or E mail ID." ( TO READ SHRI ANGURAJAN'S REPORT, PLEASE CLICK HERE ) 

LIC's PENSIONERS' PAGE appeared on LIC's portal sometime after this development. Perhaps AIRIEF didn't notice that Shri DK Mehrotra kept his word and introduced a page for the pensioners which has many deficiencies but it is a fact a page for the pensioners exists. It was possible to show this to the present Chairman and ask for improvements. Introducing some links and additional features could have been discussed.

And the AIRIEF I repeat cut a sorry figure when they could not tell the present Chairman past history and improvement sought to be introduced.  

Instead of doing this, the present Circular says AIRIEF 'demanded' a Pensioners Portal and  LIC said "Good suggestion". 

Really a sorry state of affairs, I must say now.

SALIM RAJ KK

2 million hits

Dear Editor,

Let me first first convey my warm greetings for Maha Shivratiri Festival to you and all valuable readers of your blog.

Just see the sheer coincidence that Maha Shivratiri Day 7th March, 2016 has become an equally historical day for LIC PC also since PC has crossed Two Million Hits today.

My heartiest congrats and best wishes to you. You have worked very hard to improve with colorful designs, value addition through your wonderful cartoons as well always attempting for innovative changes in your blog.

Once again let me wish you and all your valuable readers all the best. Let me make an honest confession that your blog has become an addiction for me now.

Regards,
B.R.Mehta

(Our readers are requested not to send us more letters in this matter. -Ed.)

PENSIONERS PORTAL: Shri MP Agnihotri clarifies

Dear Editor,

AIRIEF has been demanding for the ‘Pensioners Portal’ on the lines as it is provided for others viz. employees, Developments Officers, Agents, etc. where the pensioner may have access to the details like address, nomination, amount of pension paid, commuted value availed, date of restoration of commuted pension, etc.; in addition to other particulars like various forms and group mediclaim plocy, etc. What you have referred to is the part of ‘Down Load Forms’ where pensioner’s page is provided, which contains forms etc. for the use of pensioners and that is not the ‘Pensioners Portal’ we are demanding. Mr R B Kishore has been pursuing the matter for quite sometime. At a point of time, suggestions were also sought for by the dealing personnel at Central Office to make the Portal more useful; but however, the portal as demanded has not come to existence so far.

AIRIEF’s delegation has followed up the demand for aforesaid ‘Pensioners Portal’.

In my opinion, whosoever is working for the cause of pensioners deserve appreciation and admiration.

The team met with LIC management has discussed a number of issues apart from the portal. There would not be any immediate gains but such efforts are always welcome.

M P Agnihotri

PENSIONERS PORTAL

7 Mar 16, 10:05 AM JM Aboobucker: A very good joke about award for best suggestions. I enjoyed it 7 Mar 16, 08:01 AM Salim Raj: Your cartoon. AIRIEF must be ashamed of issuing a circular saying they

demanded a Pensioners Portal and LIC quipped: Good Suggestion! Both LIC and AIRIEF men were gleefully unaware of the existence of a Pensioners portal. 

Krishna Swamy as always may not be aware of it, but RBK knows. Instead of bringing to LIC's notice that the Portal started is never regularly maintained, updated and new features added, AIRIEF men cut a sorry figure and returned joyfully with LIC's comments 'Good suggestion'. What is exposed here is the ignorance of those who

Improve this LIC's PENSIONERS' PAGE adding
necessary features must meet pensioners' demands.

spent airief money for going to Mumbai for the farce of a discussion. Instead of representing to LIC about the pathetic condition of the portal and demanding improvements in a time bound manner, here's a pensioners body which extracted not any assurance but a sweet remark 'GOOD SUGGESTION'. They must be ashamed of for issuing a circular like the present one.

Comments

6 Mar 16, 08:56 AM

namdev: media is completely anti-modi as their barons i.e. rich industrialists are willful defaulters of psu banks who fear that they have to shell out shortly if not now. they hope congress will rescue them.

6 Mar 16, 10:53 AM

B.Ganga Raju: I wish the fears of industrialists who own media also become true as early as possible, which is also the demand of Bank Unions.The grievance of progressive people is that Hinduthva is being used as a smoke screen to protect and advance the interests of wealthy and powerful Corporates.

AIRIEF Circular

To read, click below

The forbidden fruit !

To read, click below.

by B.GANGA RAJU. To read, click below.

Comments

.

AIRIEF CIRCULAR DATED 3RD MARCH 2016

To read the Circular, CLICK HERE

POLITICS

It has been decided,  we will be publishing only 

pensioner related issues on the main

page of the blog. So our pensioners will be happy,

their demand in this matter has been met. 

But we are human beings. There may be interesting incidents taking place in the country in which some of us may be interested to update our information. We will be adding such content on our rear page with clear warning POLITICS and those who are interested (Warning: ONLY THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED) in the contents may click open such pages and read! 

You will remember, we happened to publish what may be called a cartoon about which there was a brief discussion. Shri Baswaraj felt, we need not discuss such issues in our blog. He also said, we retirees respected all parties, all religions and all regions of the country. To the Chronicle, his voice sounded very mature and persuasive, We really heard Shri SN's voice thru Shri Baswaraj. And following that we had immediately published an editorial. 

Even in the Editorial, let us admit now, the main fear of the Editor was not brought to fore. The fear was that if Kanhaiya Kumar,  a young student leader in JNU, could be booked for sedition without even examining evidence against him, one day this Editor could also be booked for sedition for a cartoon published as was done in the case of Shri Asim Trivedi, Cartoonist, or Tamilnadu folk artist Kovan. That's the level of tolerance we see in the country at present. Some of these fears could be without any sound reason, real basis or foundation. But do you look around? You won't find anybody assuring us, assuaging the hurt feelings of an ordinary Indian citizen. That is the crux of the issue.

Well, we do not wish to dwell at length on the subject. Suffice it say, hereafter political content may be included in our menu. But here is our assurance, the same will not appear on the main page of the blog. There will be a warning "POLITICS" and those who wish to read the contents, may opt to do so and click to open politics page. 

Now if you wish to see POLITICS page, please click below.

HUS & BANDS, ASTROLOGERS !

Dear Editor,

Your latest and colorful cartoon is very timely to de-stress us from the tension about the ensuing SC hearing.

I am looking for an astrologer who could say emphatically like his clan that you perform this puja or homam unmindful of expenses you are sure to not only prevent any more court adjournments but also be insured of success. Could he also say what is the most auspicious time for our case managers to assemble in the court premises on MARCH 10 TH. I only wish that the other party also should not indulge in a similar venture.

There was an under-the-tree astrologer with the photos of his high profile clients kept by his side. A passerby was tempted to consult him and told the astrologer that he has several domestic problems and the worst is his nagging wife. The astrologer replied that he too has the same problem and that is why he left the house and sitting under the tree and the solution for him is to do what he has done and join him for the company.

Time is running fast. Let there be no animosity between us, astrology or no astrology let us believe in our wisdom and strength and atlast truth will prevail.

With best wishes and let us pray for our win.

R.K.Viswanathan

Tax on EPF

4 Mar 16, 08:07 PM

S.r.Nagarajan: Kudos to Sri. R. Surendran for his letter on the need to continue the present exemption. A practical analysis...

Comments

4 Mar 16, 06:23 PM

G. Narayanaswamy: Pensioners Chronicle is doing immense service in the ongoing struggle. Between LIC pensioners & LIC-GOI in the SC. The Vedic maxim Yatho Dharma thatho jayaha. Where there is dharma there is victory.

And the legal maxim: Equity follows law should embolden us irrespective however mighty our opponents and their lawyers are.

Appreciations

I hasten to appreciate and fully agree with 

views expressed by Mr. M.V.Venugopalan 

about the tryst with 10 March.

v. v. l. n. sastry.

AS Ramanathan

Dear Pensioner friends,

I have been writing and speaking in the Retired 

LIC Class I Officers Association meetings at

Chennai. Some of our retired Chairmen were also 

attending those meetings. Now after shifting to 

Hyderabad also according to the changed circumstances, 

I have been adding legal points for the benefit of 

the pensioners. No doubt I was in touch with 

Shri KML Asthana and I know him very well 

because we were working in Jaipur D.O. I have 

no hesitation in saying that he leads in the pension 

case. I continue to be a life member of the Retd. 

Class I Officers Asscn., of which shri G.N.Sridharan 

is the President. I have been working with him also 

for many years in Madras Zonal office and nobody 

can deny his contribution to the Association

.

I may also mention that from Hyderabad I had contacted Shri MSM also on the phone once, in 2013, as per the wish of another friend from Chennai. I could not contact Shri CHM, as I was told he had gone to US but subsequent to that I am in touch with him regularly through e-mails. From my talk with Shri MSM, I had a feeling he was not actively taking interest in the case, and I wish I am wrong here. It is not as though I am not sharing vital points. Shri MSM himself has acknowledged it. I am aware that he has what all I have written about our case. I have no complaints, if he has his own sources. He may use the material if he thinks it worth.

I have no malice against anyone and my object in projecting my view points are for the benefit of my pensioner brethren and it is my firm belief that vital legal points are not leaked. There were some anxious references as to whether all pensioners will benefit by the court cases. In one or two of by posts to Chronicle, I attempted to clarify by subtle references but I doubt whether I had the writing ability to convey all that I wanted to.

Whatever we may do, it depends on how you are able to convince your counsel on the points and we have to concede the counsels liberty to honour the vakalat given to him. I have to thank the editor of LIC Pensioners Chronicle for allowing his editorial discretion to publish my views.

Thanks to all the readers and I welcome your criticism and appreciation. Good luck to all pensioners.

A.S. RAMANATHAN

Dear Editor,

It is heartening to note, in the build up to 10th March newer points are emerging. While they may not be totally irrelevant to our cases before the Apex Court, are they so vitally important and going to be game-changers? I don’t understand what on earth made Mr.Ramanathan to bring in the discrimination issue pertaining to pre-2001 and post 2001 pensioner MDs and Chairmen. Is it more important than the discrimination in DR between the pre-1997 and post-1997 being suffered by thousands of pensioners?. Likewise, has LICs bungling in the computation of the DR arrears which in no way even partially fulfills the figures arrived at by Mr.Mahadevan anything to do with the case coming up on 10th March. When the three of our leaders are determined to go their chosen way, does it really matter whether Mr.Ramanathan is sharing his “legal secrets” with Mr.Asthana or anybody else. Why this digression and distraction at the eleventh hour? Is it that we have taken a vow that we will never learn from our past mistakes? The questions can go on and on, but without any result worth its salt.

Let us try to understand. Our case is rock solid. Two sets of pensioners who have put in the same length of service and retired in the same post but on different dates can never be discriminated against each other. To quote George Orwell , one cannot take the position, “all are equal, but some are more equal than the others”. It is blatant discrimination ,anti-constitutional and cant find approval in any law books. There are decided case laws supporting this view in the past. LIC has the financial capability to bear the burden. It won’t be easy picking for any judge to completely overlook this incontrovertible truth and deliver a contradictory verdict, either taking refuge under Sec.48 or provisions in the LIC Pension Rules ,1995. We have, in the columns of the PC has comprehensively thrashed out almost all interventional adversarial points. Such a simplistic, straightforward and uncomplicated case, through infighting ,egoism and one-upmanship we have complicated it beyond recognition. It is becoming murkier and more muddled as months and years pass by.

The case is awaiting final hearing on 10th March. If the case is so straightforward and simple what then is ailing the proceedings?. The reasons are not far to seek. It is evident from the way people have already started reacting. The “Eastern News” ,March Issue is an eye-opener in this regard. Because of the eminence and imposing presence of reputed counsels representing LIC our advocates become diminutive and perhaps not able to collect their act together. It is said that even the Judges get intuitively get influenced by their presence. This appears to be the cause for LIC always managing adjournments and we, not able to get an opportunity to present our case properly. Someone rightly observed in one of his posts that the case should be fought effectively in the Court room and not in the blogs. Very true. So, instead of wasting the time and getting distracted by issues which are irrelevant at the moment, focus on Upgradation of pension, as DR parity is almost a settled one sans the computational conundrum. As promised by them, make sure that our case is top in the list and most of all create proper environment to place our arguments effectively and in a convincing manner. Choosing our counsel should be given paramount importance and for a change LIC should face denial of another adjournment. This is definitely not the time to think about anything else.

There is discrimination all around us. We find the judges discriminating between advocates of eminence and small time operators. Government is discriminating the citizens as nationalists and non-nationalists .In short, discrimination engulfs the entire universe in some form or the other. We cant do anything about it. Let us focus on the discrimination we , as pensioners are facing today due to differential pension and DR and stop with that. Victory will be ours.

With Greetings,

M.V.VENUGOPALAN

Discrimination in Pension of the Chairmen and MDs

GOI makes the appointment of the Governor 
of RBI and the Chairpersons of some public 
sector undertakings like LIC, SBI etc. in the 
(GOI) Cabinet Secretary's scale : S-34 : 
(Rs.90,000/- fixed). The Deputy Governors 
of RBI and Chairpersons / MDs of some 
public sector undertakings are also appointed 
in the Apex scale: S-33: (Rs.80,000/- fixed) 
or in the Secretary's scale: S- 32: 
(Rs.75,500-80,000).

All know that the 7th CPC has recommended OROP to all GOI employees - Civilians. But, all may not know that the secretaries retired in S-33 and S-34 have all along been getting OROP. For example, a Secretary (the secretaries are attached to various ministries) retired with fixed basic pay of Rs. 8,000/- (1986 revision), or with Rs.26,000/- (1996 revision) or with Rs.80,000/- (2006 revision) got / gets basic pension of Rs.40,000/- ( 50% of Rs.80,000/-) plus DR. All the pensioners retired in scale S-1 to S-32 are eagerly awaiting implementation of 7th CPC recommendations to get OROP from 01-01-2016.

Some of the veteran pensioners, who retired in the topmost post of LIC as Chairman and as MD, LIC or their family pensioners may like to share their experience / views, in LIC PC, on pension loss meted out to them and on any matter relevant to updation of pension. It may not be necessary to disclose their "identity". Some of them (the ex C & MDs) may also like to open up / join the fruitful discussions. No man is an island.

Today is Thursday, the 3rd March, 2016. A week more for next Thursday, the 10th March, 2016. Let us have faith in God and in ourselves and pray for good of pensioners.

SN (a 1992 pensioner)

DISCRIMINATION

SIR

THIS DISCRIMINATION WAS OBSERVED BY ME BUT IT HAD TO BE GIVEN SINCE THE CHAIRMAN AND MANAGING DIRECTORS ARE THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT THOUGH PAID FROM LIC EXCHEQUER.  IT IS THEREFORE THAT WHILE DEALING WITH THE BOARD RESOLUTION IN THE EARLIER WRIT PETITION I HAD TAKEN THE GROUND THAT THE BOARD IS AN EXTENSION OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT SINCE TWO ARE THE SECRETARIES IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE, CHAIRMAN AND MDs ARE ALSO THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT AND IF THERE IS A PRIVATE MEMBER HE IS ALSO REPRESENTING THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT, THEREFORE, THERE WAS NO NEED FOR ANY FURTHER APPROVAL OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT.

KML ASTHANA

Chat column comments

3 Mar 16, 05:57 AM

R.K.ViSWANATHAN: ASR has opened the Pandora's box. Pity those who were discriminated. What will they do ?

3 Mar 16, 06:45 AM

A.S.Ramanathan: If our claim for equality of treating all pensioners, every one of us will get the same benefit, whatever the Govt. might think.

AS Ramanathan

LIC CAUGHT IN ITS OWN WEB IN CHANDIGARH ?

The double faux pas by LIC committed 

in calculating the dues (according to them) 

twice has not only exposed the game 

played by LIC by trying to bulldoze its 

way in the Chandigarh HC, but also a 

fresh ammunition for us to push our case 

for upgradation with greater force. 

Firstly, LIC made a fresh calculation for 

pre- August 1992 retirees and secondly 

the difference payable was wrongly 

informed before the High Court as 

interest for the ten petitioners.

In actuality, the recalculation was necessitated for the following reasons:

Reason No 1

The earlier method involved the calculation of DR from the date of retirement upto 1/8/1992 and merging the same with the existing Basic Pension on 1/8/1992.This merged total was taken as a notional revised pension as at 1/8/1992.On this notionally revised Basic Pension on 1/8/1992, DR based on the August 1992-revised DR formula was applied to arrive at DR as at 1/8/1997 and the same was merged with the earlier notionally revised Basic Pension and the merged total was taken as the revised Basic Pension on 1/8/1997.

When revision was effected in this manner, the basic step of removing the DR anomaly which existed in the form of dual DR formula for retirees and in-service employees was not taken. For this reason the revised Basic Pension on merger done straightaway at one stage on 1/8/1997 worked out more than as per their earlier calculations.LIC was compelled to remove this inconsistency by working out a higher revised Basic Pension.

Reason No 2

When, in respect of 10 pre-August 1992 retirees,LIC undertook two stage revision viz on 1/8/1992 (notional), and 1/8/1997,it had per force to convert the notionally revised pension of 1/8/1992 into the actual revised pension on 1/11/1993, which would have had implications of liability to pay difference in commuted portion pension with interest for delayed portion from June 1995 till date of payment. It was in effect an acceptance of the principle of upgradation albeit without weightage As a corollary, LIC cannot escape adopting similar process on 1/8/2002,1/8/2007 & 1/8/2012,Not adopting this principle is already hitting the family pensioners hard with reduction in pension.

LIC decided to play safe by taking the one stage-merger route - of course without removing the DR anomaly and freezing the pension so revised thereby perpetuating the anomalies. If only LIC had adopted a uniform DA/DR formula for in-service employees and retirees as was done after 1/8/1997, even without going through elaborate calculations based on their own erroneous interpretation of the Board Resolution, the existing pension without upgradation would be more.

The LIC Counsel erroneously tried to explain away the difference that arose between the above two calculations as interest payable which also got recorded in the HC Order dated 16/2/2016.Now that the HC has ordered on 1/3/2016 that LIC has to file a reply to our application, the onus is on LIC to do the explaining the difference of Rs 1.29 lks which it has undertaken to deposit in the Court .If truth is admitted LIC will be caught and we have to wait and see what untruth will be invented by LIC to wriggle out of this predicament.Of course they have respite upto 5/5/2016 when the COCP will come up for hearing.But it has to be explored how well we can make use of this on 10th March 2016 in our favour.

One thing that clearly emerges from all the above trial-and-error calculations resorted to by LIC is, if the LIC Board Resolution has to be meaningfully implemented, the following steps have to be necessarily taken by LIC:

1. The DR formulae for retirees from 1/11/1993 to 31/7/1997 will have to be amended on par with DA formula for in-service employees during that period. This is a basic condition that should dictate any effort to remove DR anomaly;

2. Weightage has to be provided for revision of pension on 1/8/1997, 1/8/2002, 1/8/2007, 1/8/2012 and every wage revision date if the DR merger method (with the right DR)is followed on 1/8/1997.

This in effect is OROP. If OROP comes for pre-August 1997 retirees; can upgradation for post-July 1997 retirees be far behind?  

CH Mahadevan

Team Work

EASTERN NEWS * MARCH 2016

CLICK HERE TO READ EASTERN NEWS.

SN (A 1992 Pensioner)

'How much is ideal cover? Each one's needs are different. Some survive only on pension still paying house rents. Some are well looked after by children even without mediclaim! Some are satisfied with video calls and brood over the purpose of existence !! Yet some others support their children even now', Shri B. Ganga Raju has rewritten the universal truth, reflected the reality of life. He questions, 'Are they (retiree/pensioners) kept emotionally happy by children?' The answer may be yes or no. Let us take the answer granted as yes. Hovever, all of us have to live to complete our innings. As emphasised by him, the (medical) insurance is for unforeseen contingencies. Unfortunately, such contingencies emerge more often when we are unprepared to face them. In sum, it is desirable to insure health, insure life.

As observed by Shri M.V. Venugopalan, the premium is not too much to pay. If the pensioners get their pension updated, the additional premium, nay, the entire amount of premium would be peanuts! While everyone would like to go for full coverage, the pension received by pre-August, 2002 pensioners is 'pittance' in terms of present value of rupee.

 
All TPAs and medical insurance companies say that are too in business and they function to make good profit. The hospitals charges, the doctors fees, the cost of medicines have multiplied over the last few years. The hospital charges go up and as a result, the coverage has to go up; the mediclaim coverage goes up which in short while pushes-up the hospital and doctors' charges and cost of drugs. It all seemingly works like a vicious circle. The Regulatory bodies should ensure to check the malpractices, if any. 

Shri M.Sreenivasa Murty has disclosed that LIC has been misleading the HC-P&H regarding the amount deposited in the Registry. Not sure when the sun is going to shine upon the LIC pensioners...

SN (a 1992 pensioner)

The carrot dangling before us

The floater policy cover increase to 30 lakhs has opened the flood gate for suggestions and opinions. One school of thought says it is a clever marketing strategy by the insurer to mop up premium income and one should not succumb to that. This has created a storm in the tea cup.

Group insurance being one year renewable contract the premium is not constant but rather mercurial. There are two factors which decide the renewal premium via the average age of the group and the claims experience in the group. The average age gets stabilized to the advantage of the group when fresh new entrants at relatively younger age join the insurance. But in LIC after automation the recruitment has become sporadic and therefore the fresh entrants have dwindled thereby affecting the average of the group at every renewal date. Secondly if the claims experience is favorable there could be reduction in premium on the renewal date and it is the other way when the claims experience of the group is unfavourable.Thus the premium on the renewal dates is rather mercurial. For people in the age group of 70-75, 75-80 and thereafter the motion of premium increase gets accelerated. This factor has to be born in mind by those falling in this age group opting for 20 lakhs cover. The following factor comes into play in exercising your option for the increased cover:-

Your present age, older you are be prepared for hike in premium in future and think whether it is affordable taking into account your current financial commitments.

Your present state of health. People afflicted with critical illness like stroke, uncontrolled diabetes, BMI > 30. Coronary artery disease, genetic factor affecting longevity and certain other diseases requiring surgical intervention now or later and due to efflux of time these diseases get aggravated involving heavy medical expenditure.

Affordability. Have you to pay the enhanced premium at the cost of sacrificing your basic and essential day to day needs and live in discomfort at the displeasure of your family.

The financial support you can expect from your family members and from your own resources if you were to cough up heavy medical expenditure beyond your existing mediclaim cover

The couplets from the immortal THIRUKURAL says :

Think well and then venture to do a thing. It is folly indeed to say “We shall think about it after we have ventured in it” (CH 47-467 )

Whatever may be the matter or source heard through to perceive the truth is wisdom ( CH 43-423 )

R.K.Viswanathan

Chandigarh HC developments

Dear Editor,

LIC IS VIRTUALLY FIXED ON ITS COVER UP OPERATION

Our Pensioner colleagues may remember that on 16.02 2016, LIC had successfully misled the High Court to cover up its faulty calculations for depositing the amount in the HC Registry. It's Counsel had the cheek to verbally describe the short payment as interest being paid to 10 Petitioners. Court directed the amount be deposited in the Registry within One Week

Pending compliance by LIC, we filed a Miscellaneous Application last week which is listed for today and heard by Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain. We prayed that the LIC be directed to submit detailed calculations of the amount of Rs 1,29,278/- purporting to be towards INTEREST and also be called upon to pay the same to the rest of the Petitioners.

It is learnt that LIC had on 25 Feb offered to deposit the sum of Rs 1,29,278/- which was rejected by the Registrar for being late by Two days. It then moved an Application to the Court seeking condonation of the delay of TWO DAYS and for directions to the Registrar for accepting the Deposit. We have a copy of the Application which is yet to be disposed of by the Court.

 
LIC Counsel, as usual tried to get our Application disposed of without any directions. Our (NEW) Counsel pressed for directions and succeeded. Upon LIC Counsel pleading that they have already said what needs to be said and has nothing to add, we insisted 'in that case, pay similar amount to others also' here came the climax in today's drama. LIC Counsel again blurted out, 'interest is payable to only those 10 and not others'. Justice Jain ordered 'state that in the reply'. The trap is complete. Self-dug due to sheer arrogance. I think the Court understood how it was brazenly misled.

Counsel tried the last but a powerful trick. 'My Lord, this matter was adjourned sine die' implying 'what is all this about'?. Judge retorted, 'I know. They filed an application with a prayer and you are directed to reply.' 

The matter is posted to 5/5/2016. I was present during the hearing to assist the Petitioners and the new Counsel. 

M Sreenivasa Murty 

BUDGET 2016-17

The MISSING Note

Tax forgone gets a fancy name, but still a burden

TEAM TOI (1/3/16)


In 2015-16, the Centre lost potential tax revenue worth a staggering Rs 6.11 lakh crore due to various exemptions, concessions, rebates, etc, given to sections of taxpayers. This is an increase of Rs 56,779 croreover the previous fiscal.

Earlier called `revenue forgone', but renamed `revenue impact of tax incentives' by the Modi government, this is described as “indirect subsidy to preferred taxpayers“. This figure does not include export promotion-related concessions, which amount to an additional Rs 50,938 crore.
Direct tax concessions worth Rs 68,711 crore were given to corporate bodies.

Interestingly, the finance ministry found that the effective tax rate for corporate bodies in 201415 was just 24.67% compared to the statutory rate of 32.45%. Some of the biggest companies were paying taxes at rates even lower than the average!

***

The Gov't/Babus in MoF so generous to forego such huge sums of Tax money, are unmoved on the few hundred crores (which can be met by Pension Funds of respective Banks) required for 100%DA Neutralization, Updation, Family Pension Improvements etc!

Penny frugal......Pound generous?

Perumalmaruthu

Thanks for the spontaneous response

1 Mar 16, 12:48 PM

A.S.Ramanathan: Thanks to the spontaneous response, I am able to add strength to our case. that is shared with case managers. I feel more confident of our success. Good luck to all pensioners.

PENSIONARY STATUS OF LIC CHAIRMAN AND MANAGING DIRECTORS

As per the information secured by Mr C S Murty from the Department of Financial Services (MoF) and LIC of India by invoking RTI Act 2005, the following facts emerge:

•

Chairman and Managing Director of LIC of India are appointed by the Central Government by exercising the powers conferred by Sec 4 and Sec 20 of LIC of India Act 1956 respectively. Chairman is appointed in the pay scale of Secretary and Managing Director in the pay scale of Additional Secretary.

•

Their salaries/emoluments/allowances are borne by LIC and are not reimbursed by the Ministry.

•

All Terminal dues (retirement benefits and pension) of Chairman and Managing Director are settled by LIC.

•

"The Pensionary benefits to Chairman & Managing Director of the Corporation are governed by Rule 55B of LIC of India(Employees)Pension Rules 1995 as amended on 13/8/2001 and  the same  reads as under:

RULE 55B

Pensionary benefits to employees mentioned in proviso to sub-rule (j) of Rule 2 and employees appointed as Managing Director under Section 20 of the Act (LIC Act 1956) and who were in service on or after 1^st January 1996;

Notwithstanding anything  contained  in these rules, in respect  of an employee appointed as Managing Director under Section 20 of the LIC  of India Act 1956, and in respect of an employee covered by  proviso to sub-rule(j) of Rule 2,who were in service on and after 1^st January 1996, the pensionary benefits shall be calculated  in accordance with  the provisions contained  in the Central Civil Services(Pension)Rules 1972 and the Central Civil Services( Commutation  of Pension)Rules, 1981, as applicable  to Central Government   servants and in accordance  with the instructions issued  by the Central Government  thereunder from time to time;

Provided that where such  an employee who has retired  on or after 1.1.1996 and before the  date of publication of  these rules in the Official Gazette  or the family of such employee in the event of death of such employee, gives a notice in writing within 90 days  of the publication of  these rules, expressing an option not to be governed by  the provisions  of this rule, then , the provisions of the above paragraph shall not apply  in respect of such employee or the family of such employee as the case may be. Option once exercised  under this proviso  shall be final".

•

As per the  Central Government  Notification  dated 3/7/1996, the Chairman of LIC  is  deemed to be  an employee  of the Corporation for the purpose of L I C of India (Employees)Pension Rules,1995 [ vide Rule 2(j) ]

 (Received from TR Madhava Rao)

Extract of Rule No.55-B of Pension Rules

1 Mar 16, 09:54 AM

A.S.Ramanathan: Friends, can any one send an extract of Rule No.55-B of the pension rules as my copy is an earlier edition.I also want to know the effective date of the notification.