AIRIEF CIRCULAR NO. 44 DATED 27.03.2026

 Ref: AIRIEF/Cir.no.044/

Datee : 27 March 2026

To,

All members of AIRIEF through affililiated units.........

1.Legal Case - It's been ovever a month now since I posted my last communicacation, contents of which in no way could be said to be heartening so far as the case in the Hon'ble Suprpreme Court stood, which was ordered on 3rd Dec. 202025 for hearing on 4th Feb.2026 but not listed/takeken up on this date and in the meantime the Bench was reconstituted with weird thoughts arising in ourr minds as to what the status of the case would be. Our legal team rushed to Delhi and met the Sr Couunsel to know the ramification, post re-constitution of the bench vis-a-vis finer intricacies in our case ass it stood. Assured by the Sr Counsel of no offshoot effect of the reconstitution of bench, he was reququested to make a Mention before the Presiding Jus. JK Maheshwari which he made on 10th Feb. 20266. The response of the Bench was nothing more than an reassurance of being looked.

On our concern and the vereracity of the matter, the legal committee more ofteten than once held zoom meeting to discuss pros and cons of our case as it stood and on building a consenensus among them, we have again pursuaded with the Sr Counsel for a Mention which was eventually madde on Tuesday, the 17th March 2026. Our Sr Counsel emphatically invited attention of Jus JK Maheshwarri towards the fact that more than 6500 super senior pensioners have passed away since the admission of SLP on 24th Feb. 2024. He continued to plead befoore the Hon'ble bench that the submissions in thee matter is almost made and not more than an hour would be required for recapitulating the entire facct of the case. The Hon'ble Judge gave an assurance of looking into the matter. The Counsel duo appearered hopeful during our talks after the Mention and asssured that the case will be taken up soon. We have to wait and watch and to keep our fingers crossed andd remain hopeful.

2.

Organisational Tours- Duuring course of my personal visit to Kolhapur on 8thh Feb.2026, I took the opportunity of meeting with thehe local members there. Shri Dattatraya Deshpandee having his roots in Kolhapur lined up the meeting. The members were curious to know of how the casee stood today since

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taking off a brilliant start in August 2025. The facts of the case was shared with them and they left with their doubts cleared. The memberss hailed the efforts of AIRIEF and expressed satisfactition. Our President Shri G Krishnaswami also undertook 2 tours to Pune and Indore. Just to remind, Pune (WZ), Allahabad (NCZ) and Burdwanan (EZ) , were the units reportedly founded during the current FY. Bhavanagar in WZ was revived withh the efforts of our Rajkot unit. (I beg apology if I misissed mentioning any other new unit). I feel happy and proud to share that Pune unit under the leadershhip of Mr Dattatraya Deshpande and Mr OP Bendwal is all set to take the unit forward and to grreater size, the promises of which warranted the visit of our President to further motivate and inspire them. I am hopeful the unit won't belie the hopopes by growing in size in the days to come. Following the tour to Pune, Mr G.KrKrishnaswami also visited Indore on 23rd March for a day and held meeting with CZRIEF President Shri VK Singh and Shri Soumitra Dhar, Secretary. Both of them gave a good account of the activities underertaken by the units under the Zone. The AIRIEF leadedership was all praise for them on their achievemenents on the parameters of working by the units acrososs the CZ. viz New membership and its growth, legal fund donation and VV readership.

• 3.
  On Varishtha Vani - The visit of the President also coincided with a meeting with Chief Editor who gave account of the growth of its readership since shifting of publication to Indoree. Considering the necessity of increasing the life subscscription charges, a consensus was unanimously builtlt to escalate the same in 2 phases, subject however to its approval by the EC and GC when they meet at Mysuru September 2026. The escalation proroposed is Rs.1200/- from 1.4.2027 and Rs.1500/- froom 1.4.2029. Further, the reduction in number of photographs per unit and colour pages as cost cutttting initiative was also decided.
• 4.
  Affiliation fee- Memberss would much appreciate that the cost in all walks of life has increased manifold and tremendoususly. The only income the AIRIEF generates is throughgh the affiliation fee paid by affiliated units which preresently is Rs.50/- per member while other receipts like VV subscribership and legal fee bring along related expenses. Considering an example for our membership pan India, an amount of about seveen lakhs is received .Still some units will be remittingg the AF. The overall expenses of the EC meeting held at Chennai last year saw a roaring figure of upwpwards of almost Rs.12.00 lacs. In view of this, it wass discussed and proposed by the Treasurer Shri Suddhir Sethia to escalate the fee in 2 phases subjectct however to the approval of EC and thereafter thee next GC meeting. The proposed hike will bee Rs.75/- from 1.4.2027 and Rs.100/- from 1.4.20299.
• 5.
  Affiliation fee Payment - The annual AF for fiscal 2025-26 will fall due on 1.4.2026 based on members as on 31.3.2026. Please arrange to pay as early as possible as but not later than 30.6.2026 in the higher rate. It will be needlesss to add, representation by the units at Mysuru wiill be related to it. Please ensure to remit in time withh membership list.
• 6.
  Travel Rules EC meeetings & Organizational matters - Our consttitution stipulates reimbursement of 2nd AC class faare for travel. In absence of clarity, tours are unddertaken by other modes while the places are well cononnected by rail which proves expensive to AIRIEF's exchequer. Hence,

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  effective 1.4.2026 2nd Class AC faare will be reimbursed for the shortest rail distancce. Only exception may be for the place of residencee not connected by rail. If travel by Air is undertakken, the maximum reimbursement of fare will be limimited to 2nd AC class fare of Rajdhani Express foor the shortest rail distance of city of residence and desestination of visit.

• 7.
  13th GC meet at Mysururu- As is known, the meeting is scheduled to be held on 10th-11th September with 9th Sept ad 12th Sept. respectively being the arrival and departure days. Due notice of the meeting will be issued by 30thth June to facilitate members to plan their journeyey beforehand and before the Railway reservation gatee opens
• 8.
  Admission fee- This oneetime fee is required to be paid when an unit appplies for affiliation with AIRIEF. The admission formss are provided in any EC or GC meeting files. Thhe representatives attending such meetings without cconfirming from his/their preceding OBs deposit and complete the form while the Affiliation already sttands granted. Pl avoid rush of depositing the Admisission fee a second time. On part of AIRIEF , we willll be providing in the meeting files with the lists of affiliated units hereafter.

Last but not the least, the global happenings cannot be said to be good happpenings. Let us not panic and keep our heads cool. No need to hoard essentials as our govt. is equally keepeping an eye on the developments.

Stay blessed and alive to thhe difficulties faced and to be faced.

(Ranjan Dey Sarkar ) 

General Secretary