AIRIEF case at SC
Respected Pensioner Colleagues,
Namaskar. Being elders, with good amount of experience and
knowledge, we could analyse the happenings around us and identify
which one benefits us all and which one misleads. We are aware that the two-decades-delay, in getting the final favourable orders from the Apex Court, gives grounds for such misgivings, which at times baffles us. Let us think over some of those misguiding counsels compared with our steadfast actions taken by our AIRIEF, under the able leadership of our veteran activists and the expert legal guidance of our present Sr. Counsel.
There is a suggestion that all the organisations of pensioners
representing all public sector undertakings should unitedly meet Union Finance Minister, PM and MPs and apprise them of our year-long plight, and that chances are bright for them to consider to redress our grievance due to fast approaching General Elections for Parliament. We tried our best to convince them and they were also liberal in promising us, orally , that they would allay our difficulties, once the government is formed. but they proved that they are real
politicians. Sri. C.H.Mahadevan has rightly pointed out that solution to our problem does not lie with election gambling. It appears that Heads of PSUs -- LIC of India, IBA, etc -- are advised not to take any monetary decision without obtaining prior approval of Central government. This position applies to RBI too. Negotiations for
increased wages are also dragged on and working employees of PSU have started tasting the pinch of it. I wish to leave it to the imagine of
our esteemed pensioner colleagues to decide on the suggested attempt of approaching MPs, FM and PM amidst this dubious situation.
There is also a systematic and calculated allegation against our
AIRIEF that it mainly fights for 100% neutralization of DR,which
benefits only a marginal section of pensioners (those retired before
01-08-1997), and not for periodical revision of pension covering all
the pensioners. Some even propagate that the prayer of AIRIEF is nothing but claiming 60% of balance DR as interim relief. Are we to believe this mischievous misgiving ? They try to mislead our members and sabotage our sincere attempts in securing the twin benefits. Time and again we have been explaining to our members through periodical
Divisional level meetings, WhatsApp messages, Official e-mail circulars, Official website of AIRIEF and Sri. R.K.Sahni's Pensioners' Voice Blog. The contents of our Affidavits and Rejoinders filed in Supreme Court speak well of our determined fight on Twin Demands -- cent percent neutralization of DR and revision of pension at par with the wages of in-service employees. Just because of our strong demand
for revision of pension, LIC / UOI submit their replies with false
figures that they cannot grant revision due to paucity of funds, etc.
Why should our management and UOI argue in Delhi HC and SC against payment of revision of pension,when there is no such demand for the same from any of our Organizations, as blamed ? I would only request you to believe that our AIRIEF fights, tooth and nail, for winning the Kuruchetra War at any cost.
Our General Secretary, Sri. G. Krishnaswamy issues periodical
circulars for the benefit of our members. They cover details about our twin demands, minute war developments in court cases, meetings of Executive Committee, Office Bearers and Legal Committee,etc. At short intervals, our President, Sri. S.S.Saxena communicates important
developments through circulars. Our Vice President Sri. R.B.Kishore
has made it a habit to bring all important matters, for the benefit of pensioners, through e-mail circulars.
Not only AIRIEF but also all other sister Associations & Federations too are fighting for the Twin Demands. Veteran activists
outside of our Federation are contributing valid legal clues to be
handled during arguments to rebut the imaginary classes of laws and
contradictory financial status. Sri. C.H.Mahadevan has challenged the
figures submitted by LIC / UOI in HCs & SC. He has also moved to get the correct figures through RTI. We should thank both Sri. CHM and Sri. R.K.Sahni for working together in ascertaining the actual figures of all cadres of pensioners and position of funds with LIC under various heads. Our Legal Committee has never failed to take note of the comments of these gems and periodical suggestions of Sri. R.B.Kishore, Vice President, AIRIEF. The write ups of M/S
R.K.Viswanathan, G.K. Viswanathan, CHM and other noteworthy activists do help us a lot in tuning our ' Rejoinder '. Should we not be grateful to our leaders and the members in the Legal Committee for rendering their selfless service in drafting our Affidavits, Replies and Rejoinders and feeding the details of the case to Sr. Counsels.
Special mention should be made about the efforts of our President,
Sri. S.S.Saxena, Vice-Presidents, Sri. R.B.Kishore & Sri. Pramod
Bhatnagar, LC member Sri. M.P.Agnihotri and others in steering o case with the sole aim of winning on both the demands in favor of the entire community of pensioners.
Legal Fund :-
Our President, Sri. S.S.Saxena, Vice President, Sri. RBK and our
GS, Sri, G.Krishnaswamy, have discussed elaborately about our legal expenses incurred all these months at Delhi and the urgency to float sufficient legal fund. We are aware that even for a small petty case, people have to wait for years together and spend thousands till the disposal of it. For a case at HC, we have to shell out lakhs. Imagine, the expenses to be incurred towards a litigation at SC ! Certainly,
the litigants should carry fat purses. Our leaders and LC members should meet several times to pool up vital legal documents to be passed on to our Advocate Sri. R.K.Singh. With selected documents and allied legal materials gathered, we have to meet our Sr.Counsel, every
time ahead of dates listed in the court. It is customary that we have
to pay to our Sr.Counsel if he is requested to attend the court on the date of hearing, whether hearing takes place or not. LIC / UOI spends from LIC funds and engages Sr.Counsels / Attorney Generals with the only motive of securing adjournments and thereby discouraging us. But we are sure that one day or other, we will be showered with "JUSTICE".
We are determined to give a befitting fight till the last. All the
pensioner-organizations also are of the same mood. Hopes have come to all organizations that we could convince the SC this time during
July-August hearings and come out with a favorable orders. So,
friends, let us not loose our fight for want of legal fund. As we have
now engaged an expert senior most lawyer, the fee for him naturally be on the higher side. Please do not hesitate to donate towards legal fund liberally without being reminded and prompted. This is the last leg of our fight.
1. Do not pay heed to unnecessary gossips and misgivings.
2. AIRIEF is marching towards the winning post with upright chest.
3. Speed up your maximum contribution towards legal fund through your Divisional Units.
4. Please bear with me for this lengthy message.
5. Await feedback from our member-readers
Fraternally Yours,
M.P.Subrahmanian,
RIEA, Madurai ( Now ) at Chennai.
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