I could speak to the General Secretary of UBIRWA, Mr. Bhattacharjee this evening.
For ready reference I furnish the extract from the Judgement of Hon'ble
High Court of Kolkata dated 04 03 2015 relating to sanction of 100% DA
"There is nothing in the 1995 regulations which will lead the Court to the
belief that the respondent-bank had abandoned its policy as spelt out in the
1993 Memorandum to follow the rates of dearness relief granted by the
Reserve Bank of India.
By its circular dated 20th February, 2006 the Reserve Bank of India granted
100% neutralization in dearness relief to post 1st November, 2002 retirees’.
By a circular of 1st April, 2008 the Reserve Bank of India decided to grant
this benefit to pre November, 2002 retirees’ with effect from 1st March,
2008. It issued another circular of 1st January, 2010 reiterating that 100%
neutralization in dearness relief had been extended to pre November- 2002
retirees’ with effect from February, 2005. The United Bank of India
continued to pay partial compensation. The respondent-bank is paying full
compensation against price rise only to retirees’ after 1st November, 2002."
And the Memorandum of settlement dt 29 10 1993 as well as the Minutes
of the meeting dated 10 11 1997 of representatives of Unions and IBA
clearly and categorically emphasise that the Pension Scheme in
PS Banks shall invariably follow the pattern in Reserve Bank of India.
Obviously it is for the Boards of PS Banks to follow the pattern of 100%
DA neutralization implemented by the Reserve Bank of India as above.
And it is open for IBRA-AP members to follow the above High Court's
observation in presenting their case filed through the Executives of
the Association and now pending in the Hon'ble High Court of Madras .
Further, it is pertinent to note that one of the major demand of the agitating
RBI Employees who went on mass casual leave on 19 11 2015 was the
"Improvement of Pension" with a Government decision on the proposal
for reintroduction of Pension Updation Scheme as passed through a
Central Board Resolution of RBI in October 2011 and pending consideration
of the said GOI with whom the management of RBI got seriously engaged
for the past FOUR YEARS( Please read Paragraph X28 of RBI Annual Report
dt. 27 08 2015).
The matter is being dragged through intentional litigation by GOI (glaring
courtesy -constituent of UFBU, the AIBEA itself calling the matter as sub judice
as a recourse not to talk about it in X th Bipartite talks )on the plea
that once such a sanction is accorded to RBI , similar decision has got to be
made in respect of PS Banks of the IBA in terms of the Memorandum
of Settlement dated 29 10 1993 and the Minutes of the Meeting dated
10 11 1997 signed by the IBA ( of which member PS Banks had accorded
through their Board resolutions a Mandate for the specific purpose to the IBA)
along with the Unions.
Let's partake in the agitation through all democratic means while
showing our concrete solidarity with our friends in RBI and make their
efforts bring in the legitimate fruits of labor since their demand for
reintroduction of the earlier discontinued Pension Updation Scheme ,
the decision for which was duly taken by the Central Board of the
Reserve Bank of India purely based on and having had absolute regard
to the Central Civil Pension Rules .
And surprisingly the AIBEA has come out openly in support of RBI employees
through its latest letter expressing its solidarity for improvement of Pension
Scheme in RBI . Let their words turn into honest deeds. Achhe din aayegaa !
All the Best.
With Regards.
Katari Satyanarayana
9490337865
