WHAT'S IN THE COOKING....

The interlocutory applications filed by Shri KML Asthana were called on for hearing on 15-3-2013 when the Supreme Court ordered to issue notice to LIC directing them to file replies to the points raised by Shri Asthana in the applications.

LIC has now filed its replies in about 47 pages.  The interlocutory applications and the replies filed thereon by LIC will be taken up for consideration on 15th April 2013 for directions and appropriate orders for interim relief, if any.

It will be remembered that the court had sought the following details from LIC:-

THE AMOUNT DEPOSITED SO FAR,FOR WHAT PURPOSE THE AMOUNT WAS REMITTED, AMOUNT REMITTED TOWARDS PENSION REVISION AND IF NO AMOUNT WAS REMITTED TOWARDS PENSION REVISION (AS TO SPECIFIC QUERY FROM SC BENCH LIC COUNSEL REPLIED THAT NO AMOUNT IS REMITTED TOWARDS PENSION REVISION SO FAR) THE REASONS  THEREFOR.

Further details are awaited.

RENEWED APPEAL FOR FUNDS !

The litigation has reached its climax.  Supreme Court case is listed on 15-4-2013. Expenditure is very heavy in the SC. If you feel the request for contribution, to fight the case for all the pensioners irrespective of their affiliation with one or the other Association/Federation, has some justification, please do contribute by sending cheque for your donations in the name of Sh. Asthana or in the name of AIRIEF  so that the case could be forcefully contested. 

(Sh. Asthana's appeal reproduced.)

MEDI-CLAIM

It is to be brought to the notice of all the members of scheme that intimation of claim should without fail reach the office within 7 days of admission to hospital and the claim must be filed within 20 days of discharge from the hospital.

Those employees/retired employees who have opted for enhanced sum insured have to bear the full premium for the enhanced portion of the sum insured.

Medi-claim premium has been further reduced this year too.  All insured in-service and retired employees will be, therefore, eligible of refund of premium.  Central Office will shortly issue a circular in this behalf.

MEDI-CLAIM POLICY RENEWED FOR THE YEAR 2013-14

LIFE INSURANCE CORPORATION OF INDIA CENTRAL OFFICE

Dept : Personnel/ER "Yogakshema",

Jeevan Bima Marg,

Cir. No.: CO/PER/ER-A/031/2013 Mumbai - 400021.

05th April, 2013.

To

ALL OFFICES OF THE CORPORATION

Re: Renewal of Group Medicalim Policy for the year 2013-14

Our Group Mediclaim Policy covering in-service employees, retired employees and their dependents has been renewed for the year 2013-2014, on existing terms and conditions with The New India Assurance Co. Ltd. All existing benefits shall continue to be available under the Policy. The claims shall be administered directly by The New India Assurance Co. Ltd. through its designated servicing offices. Click on 'Read more' below to read the full Circular issued by LIC.

Sent: Friday, 5 April 2013 9:03 PM
Subject: LIC SUBMITS REPLY IN S.C.

LIC submitted reply today to Supreme Court containing 47 pages.

Details will be available soon.

Concluding article - IS IT TRUE ?

Well meaning gentlemen and well wishers of 'LIC PENSIONERS CALICUT' contacted me to know facts about the claim of 100% claim settlement in LIC.  

I told them, I could have done this discussion in Facebook where I found this news item.  But I could not do so. 'LIC PENSIONERS CALICUT' is a safe media where outsiders do not interfere.  Hence the discussion is done here.

I also told them, I am a person who often boasts of having done or initiated certain activities in the Corporation.  I believe a number of SDMs/ZMs/EDs and atleast three persons who headed the Corporation as Chairmen stood by me and encouraged. That was of course an attempt to light a little lamp in my own humble and simple way in the Corporation.

Click on 'Read more' below.

ON EDITOR'S NOTE "IS IT TRUE?"

Dear sir, 
Your comments... THEN WHY?
( We had earlier commented: "Nothing wrong  if it is just a few percentage less."  Then why "this is done by all institutions all over the world for year end figures?  _Editor.) 

OK I cannot reply for this practice done by all for many years.  Point is, the information is basically sound tested by critics  of standing, accepted by foreign companies also that they cannot compete with LIC claim settlement figures. We can accept of course some small deviation is bound to be there. large scale cannot escape auditor's eyes so on and so forth. 
Anyway I am happy you have studied the subject.  Mine is just casual remark. tks ( Thiruvenkataswamy Rajagopalan )

Shri Thiruvenkataswamy Rajagopalan has sent us a feedback that making adjustments in business figures "is done by all institutions all over the world for year end figures. Nothing wrong if it is just a few percentage less. "  Of course claim payment figures cannot be manipulated. 

Shri Thiruvenkataswamy has made such a short remark that we initially could not deduce what he meant.  We believe he is also agreeing with us that the correct figures should be projected. There is nothing wrong if it is a few percentage less.

The mention "all over the world" or "the world over" made us remember an incident happened in the office of Ombudsman when a LIC lady officer made the plea that "insurance companies the world over" did not disclose reasons for refusal of insurance.  Ombudsman rejected this plea and asked LIC to disclose reasons for refusal of insurance and finally Central Office disclosed the reasons. Click on 'Read more' below to read the story published in the blog 'INITIATIVE'.

Shri GN Sridharan has addressed a letter to Shri M.R. Kumar, Executive Director (P) on 26th March 2013.

In his letter, Shri Sridharan has recalled his meeting with Shri Kumar and said the delegation of Federation of Retd.Class I Officers Associations "had raised the issue of Refixation of pension for two categories viz. (1) those who had retired between 1-8-1992 and 31-3-1993 and (2) those whose date of birth fall on 1st of calendar month".  "Again  the same issues were discussed" when Shri Sridharan called on Shri Kumar on 2nd February 2013 along with other office bearers from Delhi.

Shri Sridharan in his letter has now requested that "this matter be considered with all the seriousness it deserves." Please click on 'Read more'below  to read full text of his letter.

ON EDITOR'S NOTE "IS IT TRUE ?"

                  rtswamy@hotmail.com                   

             thiruvenkataswamy rajagopalan

This is done by all institutions all over the world for year end figures. Nothing wrong if it is just a few percentage less.

("Nothing wrong  if it is just a few percentage less."  Then why "this is done by all institutions all over the world for year end figures?  _Editor.) 

On Editor's note titled "IS IT TRUE ?"

                              _____hasmukhbhavsar@yahoo.com_____

I  thank you very much for providing important information relating to pensioners. I was not aware of the site which is very useful to all the LIC pensioners. For your information I may add that I retired from LIC in 2008 as DM. 

I am forwarding your mail to all my pensioner friends. Please keep in touch.

                     H S Bhavsar

IS IT TRUE ?

Editor's note

All of us who have worked for the Life Insurance Corporation of India must rejoice !  Here's a news item appearing in newspapers that the Corporation has achieved "an unmatched 99.47% claim settlement  record for the last year".  All of us had a long innings in the Corporation and we should be really proud that though we could not achieve this record during the long years of our work in the Corporation, alas ! that coveted goal is achieved.  And we should be normally proud of this.

My dears friends, but let me ask one odious and unpalatable question: Is it really so? Is it true that we have really smashed previous records and created new ones?

I have my own doubts.  My experience shows that such records are not really achieved but  more often such "office records" are created !  
Click on 'Read more' below.

Our Chairman has recently clarified that Manager (OS) will be the Nodal Officer for all pensioner matters in LIC. Click on 'Read more' below.

PENSIONERS PORTAL LIKELY...

A PORTAL FOR LIC PENSIONERS !

LIC Chairman has agreed to introduce a portal for the use of pensioners. It is believed this portal will serve several purposes and will be helpful to office, pensioners and pensioner  organizations. 

This portal site is likely to provide links to information and other web sites.

Pensioners have always felt that the information concerning the institution they worked all these years is denied to them.  They do not know what is happening in LIC.  Latest changes in mediclaim rules, pension matters, transfers and promotions taking  place in the Corporation, LIC's initiatives in many areas of nation building are all denied to them. CLICK 'Read more" BELOW.

Sh. RS Walia from Mohali has handed over another Cheque of  Rs.2000/-which is being deposited to Sh. Asthana's legal fund account along with some other contributions collected by Chandigarh Association.

Sh Walia is a regular contributer to the legal fund and his personal contribution has gone up to more than Rs.11000/-.

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX - FEBRUARY 2013

Monthly Index figures
JANUARY 2013	0221
FEBRUARY 2013	0223
MARCH 2013	0000

SHRI ANGURAJAN'S REPORT ON DISCUSSION WITH LIC MANAGEMENT

 At the outset I must thank our AIRIEF President & General Secretary for deputing me for the discussions with our LIC Chairman and his team, along with our  leaders like  S/Sri G.T. Parikh, Prem Srivastava and J.K. Karulkar.  I send herewith gist of the proceedings. Click on 'Read more' below for details of discussion with LIC OF INDIA.

MC JAIN V/s LIC - DIVISION BENCH JUDGMENT

D.B. SPECIAL APPEAL UNDER RULE 134 OF THE RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT RULES AGAINST ORDER DATED 13^TH SEPT, 2012 PASSED BY HON’BLE JUSTICE SHRI M.N. BHANDARI IN S.B. CIVIL WRIT PETITION NO. 1454/2009 PARTLY ALLOWING THE WRIT PETITION, THE PETITIONER HAS BEEN NOW DECLARED ENTITLED FOR REVISED PAY SCALE AS PER NOTIFICATION DATED 18-07-1996 WITH CONSEQUENTIAL BENEFITS. Click on 'Read more' below to read the full text of Division Bench Judgment.

OUR FOLLOW UP ACTIONS

Our stand now is to press for the implementation of the High Court Judgment and we are taking all possible steps in that behalf.  

We have also contacted a couple of non official Board Members and we hope that they will support the case made out for Pre-1997 retirees in our letter to the Chairman dated 4-3-2013 as a first step forward.

For the information of our members, while LIC is reportedly contemplating to file an appeal against the order of the High Court of Punjab & Haryana, they have not yet decided on any such action on our Delhi case so far.  We shall, therefore, have to necessarily wait and watch.

Meantime, we assure that our efforts on all possible directions will continue and we shall intimate the progress promptly.

I have seen the letter of Shri. P. Ramanathan (my good friend) on the

above subject posted in your blog. 

I have already taken up the matter with Central Office of LIC and I have 

even yesterday sent a reminder. 

I agree that negativism of approach on a small 

issue like this is disgusting. 

GN SRIDHARAN

'LIC PENSIONERS CALICUT' has received a copy of letter Sh. P. Ramanathan has written to LIC requesting to transfer his Pension files to Chennai Division No.1 (from Chennai DO No.2).  He has written a lengthy letter.  We have already published excerpts of his letter the other day.

Shri Ramanathan has given his arguments at length in an unusual fashion.   But it is our feeling that no arguments are necessary at all for transfer of his pension file.   

What is required is appreciation of one single fact that a pensioner is after all a pensioner and an old man!  A pensioner's problems are very different. Look at any pensioner. Day by day he is losing his usual vigour and vitality. He has reduced mental and cognitive ability. More often he has a tendency to make mistakes. He errs. He forgets.  And he argues too. All this, because of his old age problems. He is prone to disease, syndromes and sickness.  Even crossing a road or catching a bus is a problem for him.  He may meet with fatal and unfortunate accidents any time. For him the countdown has just started.   

On the other hand, often decisions denying a request emanate from typical arguments in the office like "why he wants it; doesn't he receive his pension (what more he wants) etc." Those who deny such a request of a senior person may even ask why a concession is given to a senior citizen at all places. Why a seat is reserved for him in a bus?  Why should somebody offer a helping hand to a person trying to cross a road...  They may laugh at such practices....

Forget the individual before the competent authority and other petty prejudices.

We request: 

Please allow Shri Ramanathan the luxury of a transfer of his file to an office of his convenience.  What is required here is not sympathy but only empathy.   Will the authority rise to the occasion and solve the problem.  

We are sure, there is going to be a magnificent decision in this  matter which we will applaud and inform the pensioners across the country.  

ALL ABOUT TRANSFER OF A PENSION FILE !

Sir,
 I am waiting to hear from Southern Zonal 

Office that my pension, mediclaim, 

whatever will hereafter be serviced 

by OS/Pension Dept. of Chennai D O 1 

located in LIC Building on Mount Road, 

CHENNAI-2.

Such transfers take place among the four Mumbai City and the three Delhi City and the two Kolkata City DOs every time, all the time, depending solely on the convenience of the pensioner and based on his written request.
If in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata, why not in Chennai - the fourth metropolis - too, please?  Isn't discrimination patently practised here also in the meting out of different kinds of treatment to the same set of people, viz., retirees, under similar circumstances - one kind in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata and another kind in Chennai?Click "Read more'below.

" I AM HAPPY TO INFORM YOU THAT

THE APPEAL FILED BY LIC

IN THE CASE OF SHRI MC JAIN RM RETD 

DURING THE PERIOD WHEN PAY SCALE WAS 

REVISED BUT BENEFIT NOT GIVEN 

(GRATUITY CASE) 

HAS BEEN DISMISSED. 

HE WILL NOW BE BENEFITED BY A PENSION OF MORE THAN 

RS 5000 ON THAT DATE AND WILL HAVE EFFECT ON 

FURTHER REVISIONS AFTER DECISION OF SC. " KML ASTHANA

                   We have received the above brief message.  Details awaited.

          _______dr.pritam@gmail.com_______

Renewal of Group 

Medi-claim Policy

Premium in such circumstances should be paid under protest and not discontinued. 
Federation should constitute a committee
with Sh. Murthy as Head and negotiate.

( This's a response received. Shri RK Sahni had earlier circulated the write up on Shri CS Murthy's letter to LIC Chairman appeared in 'LIC Pensioners Calicut'.  - Editor ) 

Shri C.S. Murthy, Hyderabad had addressed a letter to the Chairman, LIC of India requesting,inter alia,the medi-claim scheme should be managed directly by LIC of India. We had earlier published the details.

Raising the above arguments, Shri Murthy had sent to LIC comparative data on claims paid for full 5 years from 2006 to 11 and requested to give a fair trial to administer the scheme at least for one fyr 2013-14 and feel the difference.

Comparative data on claims paid submitted to LIC which we could not publish earlier is   released now.  Please Click on 'Read more' below for details.

For the first time I have visited this site and found it to be more useful and interesting. Further please accept my heartiest congratulations for taking pain every minute by updating the site immediately. I think it is a very handy tool for computer savvy pensioners. Thanks a lot. Jitendra Shah, Retd. Manager, Ahmedabad Division.

The Supreme court of India had issued orders on 15th March 2013 asking Life Insurance Corporation of India to file their replies to the points raised in the Interlocutory Applications filed by Shri Asthana in the Supreme Court.  The Court had also ordered to list the case after three weeks. Accordingly the case is listed on 15th April 2013.

 In this backdrop, which of course our readers are well aware, Shri Asthana writes :-  

"Now LIC has to reply to all the submissions made in the application. These are not confined to deposit of “retiral benefits” to pensioners from due date as was ordered by the Hon’ble SC on 17/10/2012 subject to which stay on contempt proceedings will be applicable. Instead LIC has to give reply to all the submissions made in the application, which I have and my other friends have circulated to many pensioners who have conveyed their E-mail addresses. However, the same is once again given below. Thus LIC has to give reply to so many questions in one way or the other and any reply will confirm contempt.

Since the litigation has reached its climax and the expenditure is very heavy in the SC, 

if you feel my request for contribution to fight the case for all the pensioners irrespective of their affiliation with one or the other Association/Federation has some justification, please do contribute by sending cheque for your donations in my name or in the name of AIRIEF so that I can forcefully contest the case.  Please click on 'Read more' below.

SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION: NEXT LISTING 15-4-2013

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

Status: Pending

Status of Special Leave Petition (Civil) 29956-29957 of 2011

LIC vs. Krishna Murarilal Asthana & ors. etc.

Pet. Adv. Mr. Ashok Panigrahi  Res. Adv. Mr. Rameshwar Prasad Goyal

Subject category: SERVICE MATTERS - RETIRAL BENEFITS

Listed 2 times earlier.    Next date of listing: 15-04-2013

a promise of help

On behalf of NFIFWI (Development Officers' Association) North Zone, appreciations to the efforts made by Sh. Asthana and the team behind him.We sincerely hope that class of pensioners would definitely get justice if not today but tomorrow.  I am going to request some of my divisions under North Zone, who could not contribute towards this cause earlier, to come forward and extend their helping hands towards this genuine common cause.  K C SANKHYAN, Zonal Gen Secretary, NFIFWI (NZ).    

________mp agnihotri_______

    BHOPAL

After going through the interim order dated 15.03.2013 of Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of IAs filed by Shri Asthana, a lot of queries are raised. Relevant portion of the order states, “Issue notices. Reply to the applications be filed within two weeks.”

• I feel that after discussions, the Hon’ble Judges find the applications worth consideration and therefore issued direction to issue notice to LIC to submit their reply to the applications within two weeks.Click 'Read more' below.

Shri C.S. Murthy, Saidabad, Hyderabad has addressed a letter to the Chairman, LIC of India, Mumbai on renewal of Group Medi-claim Policy for the financial year 2013-14.  He says that irreparable financial loss/damage is inflicted on beneficiaries by New India Assurance Co. Ltd. with inflated claim figures.  And as such, he demands that RENEWAL MUST NOT BE ALLOWED.  He has advanced his arguments to press his demand.

.

Shri Murthy writes that his “experience proved that the Regional Offices of New India Assurance Co. Ltd. were  found to be more reliable and dependable.  The data from Regional Offices of NIA usually disputed the claim figures projected by NIA Divisional Office, Mumbai which issued the policy.”

.

He has noted the following points in defence of his arguments that the whole scheme is not properly managed :-  Click 'Read more' below.

A very hearty and welcome news as to the SC direction to the LIC counsel to file an affidavit giving details of the amount remitted in the Jaipur HC and more especially the amount remitted towards Pension revision and if no amount was remitted  the reasons for not remitting the same.

Click 'Read more' below.

LATEST SUPREME COURT ORDER OF 15-3-2013

As scheduled, Supreme Court Bench consisting of Hon. Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Hon. Mr. Justice Kurian Joseph heard the arguments of the counsel on the Interlocutory Applications 7 & 8 of 2013 and made the following order:- Click on 'Read more' for supreme court orders dated 15th March 2013.

AS WE HAVE ALREADY REPORTED, CENTRAL OFFICE HAS ISSUED CIRCULAR ON 11TH MARCH 2013 GRANTING CASH MEDICAL BENEFIT  OF RS.1000/- PER MONTH TO PRE 1-1-1986 EX-GRATIA PENSIONERS AND RS.500/- PER MONTH TO SPOUSES OF DECEASED PRE  1-1-1986 RETIREES EFFECTIVE  FEBRUARY 2013.'

Click 'Read more' below for the full text of the circular.

SUPREME COURT DEVELOPMENTS...

THE SUBMISSIONS BY BOTH SIDES ARE OVER. LIC COUNSEL WANTED 2 WEEKS TIME FOR SUBMITTING THE REPLY TO THE TWO APPLICATIONS.

AFTER HEARING BOTH THE COUNSELS, SC BENCH ORDERED LIC COUNSEL THAT LIC (CONTEMNORS) MUST FILE AN AFFIDAVIT IN RAJASTHAN HC WITHIN 14 DAYS STATING

(1) THE AMOUNT DEPOSITED SO FAR

(2) FOR WHAT PURPOSE THE AMOUNT WAS REMITTED

(3) AMOUNT REMITTED TOWARDS PENSION REVISION

(4) AND IF NO AMOUNT WAS REMITTED TOWARDS PENSION REVISION, THE REASONS THEREFOR.  

AS TO SPECIFIC QUERY FROM SC BENCH, LIC COUNSEL REPLIED THAT NO AMOUNT IS REMITTED TOWARDS PENSION REVISION SO FAR.

THIS IS SURELY A STEP FORWARD AS FOR THE FIRST TIME SC BENCH, APART FROM THEIR CLEAR CLARIFACTORY ORDER DT. 17/10/2012 FOR SETTLEMENT OF RETIRAL BENEFITS FROM DATE OF ELIGIBILITY, SHARPLY FOCUSSED ON PENSION REVISION.

Details awaited.

WRIT PETITION FILED FOR INCREASE IN PENSION WITH EVERY WAGE REVISION.

Reports are reaching us from Allahabad that a writ petition has been admitted by a Allahabad High Court  Bench after hearing arguments whether LIC comes under Industrial Dispute Act for the purpose of pension or not.  The Bench rejected the arguments placed by the Additional Solicitor General and the Advocate for LIC in this matter.

 

It is intended through this Writ Petition to press for updation of pension with every wage revision.  Details are awaited.

ATTENTION: PRE-1986 EX-GRATIA PENSIONERS!

CENTRAL OFFICE HAS ISSUED CIRCULAR ON 11TH MARCH 2013 GRANTING DOMICILIARY MEDICAL EXPENSES OF RS.1000/- PER MONTH FOR PRE 1986 EX-GRATIA PENSIONERS AND RS.500/- PER MONTH FOR WIDOWS EFFECTIVE FROM FEBRUARY 2013 AS PER A MESSAGE RECEIVED BY 'LIC PENSIONERS CALICUT' FROM SHRI GN SRIDHARAN, GENERAL SECRETARY,FEDERATION OF LIC RETD. CLASS I OFFICERS ASSOCIATIONS.

What's this controversy about?  Sri Sridharan's is a simple letter forwarding Delhi High Court judgement. He has requested LIC to implement the court orders because 'No DR discrimination' is the prayer in his writ petition allowed by Delhi High Court.  He has reminded about Board resolution as it is a point LIC should be reminded about.  And notification?  It is his desire that the pensioners should get the benefit with notification or otherwise.  If the Supreme Court dismisses SLP, that's fine.  Then we can demand implementation and say no notification is necessary.  Atleast, not now!

Rampavan, Pgt.

READERS' COMMENTS (2)

A FERVENT APPEAL AND FEED BACK TO THOSE WHO MATTER 

FROM THOSE PENSIONERS AT GRASS ROOT LEVEL.



ravipati jalaramaiah 

jalaramaiah@gmail.com

THESE PEOPLE WITH NO AXE TO GRIND AND WHO CALL A SPADE A SPADE WILL CERTAINLY KNOW THAT HAPLESS PENSIONERS ARE CAUGHT IN THE CROSS FIRE WAGED BY VESTED INTERESTS IN THE BATTLE FOR CREDIT AND SUPREMACY WITH OUT PUTTING IN THEIR OWN EFFORTS TO SERVE THEIR NEGLECTED INTERESTS. SUCH PEOPLE WANT TO TRUMPET THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS SECURED ON THE BACK OF THE BREAK THROUGH ACHIEVED BY SOME GOOD SAMARITANS IN THIS RESPECT SOME TIME BACK.

 
THE PEOPLE WHO MATTER AND WHO CRAVE FOR CREDIT MUST UNDERSTAND THAT Click 'Read more' below 

ON SHRI GN SRIDHARAN'S LETTER TO LIC CHAIRMAN

"....While he is taking shelter of Jaipur & Chandigarh judgments, he remains silent on the issue/demand for upgradation of pension which has also been adjudicated by the HCs and decided in favour of pensioners, and now two SLPs of LIC against the favourable judgments on the two issues of DR and upgradation  are listed on 15th March 2013 in the apex court. Just to create confusion he is talking of Sec 48 of LIC Act even now when it is no issue after the Jaipur and Chandigarh HCs judgments.  Is he jealous of pensioners getting all their due retiral benefits? 

"We request him, in a humble way, to please wait and watch at this crucial juncture instead of mingling negative views.  Pensioners of LIC irrespective of class or cadre are all united now and are sanguine that SC will dismiss the two SLPs of LIC and all pensioners will get justice at both ends i.e.DA  anomaly removed and upgradation of pension on every grade revision."

HK AGGARWAL
Mohali, CHANDIGARH.