Dear Editor,
I fully understand and appreciate Mr SN's reaction (which is natural) to Chairman's 'conclusion'. However, I wish to convey my own response which is as follows: In a way we stand benefitted to know the mind of LIC (officially and directly from the horse's mouth). We may be disappointed but I am not surprised. We all know that LIC is always opposed to Revision of Pension with wage Revision and the reasons are many. Government is greatly concerned with ripple effect in Banking sector and LIC owned that argument and never attempted to differ. Governor Reserve Bank has been of a different mettle and Chairman LIC is of a different mettle. It is a matter of organizational culture. Autonomy in LIC has been a myth. We better reconcile to it. Coming to the issues of immediate concern before us, we are lucky that our Pension Revision demand remained live and active thanks to the Jaipur Judgement and the two others that followed. We are also lucky that LIC is irrelevant in the final decision making thanks again because the issue is before the Apex Court. We are also lucky because
Government has changed and the new Government (Political Authority) is not ready or interested to be hauled up by the Supreme Court unlike its predecessor outfit. We are lucky because Supreme Court laid the law governing Pensions so clearly in the recent years and it can't be different for LIC Pensioners. Our Jaipur Judgement was neither the first nor the last on the subject. DS Nakara and a host of other decided cases are already in our favor. And the Government is fully aware of it. These are our strong points and we should not fail in capitalizing on them by not playing our role correctly and carefully. We all know that a SLP against a HC Order is entertained by the Supreme Court only if it sees in the SLP a POINT OF LAW that needs to be decided. Obviously SC saw one in the SLPs and so it found it necessary to admit the SLPs condoning a delay of 2 years 3 months and 24 days. A rare thing indeed and LIC succeeded in making out a case in its favor (that there is a point of law to be decided by the SC). The Point of Law seen by the SC is the one Chairman LIC is now so confidently banking on. We
cannot just wish it away. We have to meet it and we shall, when we get a chance to oppose the CAs. Our immediate task is to get the matters on board. Let's see how best and how soon we can. No time to waste or indulge in petty squabbles and become enemies of our own cause. We are lucky because there is one more critical point in our favor. The Civil Appeals are filed by LIC with all the strength at its command. It says Government only can decide on amendment of Pension Rules. Right. What has the Government said in the present Appeals? It is SILENT. It's not an omission. It is deliberate. Union of India did not file any Affidavit supporting LIC's Appeals. Why? It is going to tell SC "we go by your Lordship's Orders". Government knows that the wind in Pension cases is against it as far as Supreme Court is concerned. This point figured in our discussions with the Chairman. He said Government filed its Affidavit in Allahabad Writ Petition. (The WP has not yet been heard). I said 'I know Sir. But why it did not do so in the present Appeals? Chairman didn't answer. Our success lies in converting the case as between us and the Government with Supreme Court taking control. Let LIC watch and take orders. We parted in the meeting on 10th Dec with the Chairman. The parting words from us were: 'We shall meet again Sir to celebrate Pensioners' success in Supreme Court'. To be fair to him, he said 'All the best'.
M.Sreenivasa Murty
Camp: New Delhi