Archives-News
Today, representatives of the All India BSNL Pensioners Welfare Association, led by V Vara Prasad (General Secretary), including RSN Murty (Vice President) and VRK Sarma (Advisor, Visakhapatnam District), met the new Minister of State for Communications, Dr. Chandrasekhar Pemmasani, in Guntur.
During the meeting, we submitted a formal letter requesting Dr. Chandrasekhar to advise the Department of Telecommunications (DOT) to discuss our long-overdue pension revision, effective from January 1, 2017.
Dr. Chandrasekhar listened to our concerns and told us that he is well aware of the issue. He said he will look into the matter further.
We also requested him to extend his good offices for the establishment of offices of AD CGHS in AP and posting of Joint Director (Policlinic) CGHS at Visakhapatnam.
The appeal filed by the Union of India before the High Court was listed as Item 33 before Hon'ble Justices Suresh Kait and Girish Kathpalia today (12-07-2024). Due to non-availability of Mr Ghose, Our lawyer sought a short accommodation. The Honourable Court has adjourned the matter to August 1, 2024. Mr Ghose will represent us on that date.
We requested DoT to take a positive decision to implement it atleast for those who sought and obtained legal order including those who retired under VRS-2019 scheme.
2024_07_04-07_26-office-lens-1.pdf
6. Be that as it may, we have no hesitation in concluding that in terms of the order dated 05.04.2024 this CP needs to be proceeded with. However, in view of the fact that the WP(C) is coming up for consideration on 12.07.2024, let the present CP may be listed after the said date. In the event, the order of this Tribunal is will not complied with, by the next date of hearing, respondent No. 1-Secretary, Department of Telecom or any other responsible officer, not below the rank of Director, shall appear in person to explain continued non-compliance of the order of this Tribunal. Re-list on 13.08.2024. Chhabilendra Roul Member (A)
Pratima K Gupta Member (J)
The 10th District Conference of Coimbatore was held on 4th July under the presidentship of Com. Robert. The conference saw an impressive participation of around 430 comrades. Sri. Paalvannan, DGM HR Coimbatore, graced the occasion. S. Sundarakrishnan, CS, has addressed. The election of office bearers was unanimous. The elected office bearers are: President: Com. Robert Secretary: Com. Dhanuskodi Treasurer: Com. Koteeswaran .The conference was meticulously organized by the team, with Com. Sivakumaran and Com. Jagadeeswaran as the DS in charge.
The contempt petition was listed as Item 25 today i. e ; 03-07-2024 before the CAT.
Mr. Ghose appeared on our behalf and submitted that the Department had still not complied with the judgment despite having failed to obtain a stay from the HC now on 2 occasions.
He requested that JS, DoT may be asked to remain personally present on the next date in case of non-compliance.
The bench was pleased to record that the HC had allowed it to proceed with the contempt petition and therefore it was bound to ensure compliance of its judgment.
Matter was adjourned to 13-08-2024.
Patrika for July-August 2024 is posted from Chennai on 2-7-2024
Click here to see the copy
• The mandatory linkage of CGHS Beneficiary ID with ABHA ID has been put on hold.
• Linking your CGHS Beneficiary ID with ABHA ID is now voluntary and optional until further notice.
The AIBSNLPWA Tamil Circle Executive Committee met successfully on June 19th and 20th at the AMR Hostel in Salem.Circle President Com V Saminathan presided. General Secretary Comrade V. Vara Prasad and All India President Comrade D. Gopalakrishnan delivered keynote speeches.Circle Secretary Com S Sundarakrishnan provided updates on circle level issues which includes the 78.2% pension revision without extra increment pending final settlement.There was significant discussion on pension revision, with commitments reiterated by CHQ leaders. Other CHQ Office-Bearers Comrades P. Venugopal, P.Jayaraman, and V.Latha have participated and addressed the meeting.
Annual General Body meeting of Salem West on 19-6-2024. Well atyended. GM Salem Dr C. P.Subha has graced and given her message. CHQ office bearers Com DG, Com V Vara Prasad, Com Venugopal, Com Latha, Circle office bearers Com Sundarakrishnan, Com Swaminathan, Com V Rama Rao attended and addressed.
Nellore District Conference was held on 19-06-2024.K.S.Koteswara Rao A. P Circle president, D. Venkateswara Rao A.P Circle Secretary , Thirupathi Dist Secretary A. R Soundara Rajan and Prakasam Dist Secretary are attend and addressed.V. Lakshminarayana, K. Suryanarayana and P. Jilanikhan are elected as President, Secretary and Treasurer.
Letter addressed to hon'ble MOC , Welcoming him and seeking his kind intervention to direct DOT to implement PB CAT Judgement regarding PENSION REVISION to BSNL Retirees with effect from 01-01-2017 on the basis of CPC formula.
District Conference of TRIVANDRUM was held on 11-6-24.
All India Advisor Com PSR inaugurated. Dist President SG Panicker presided. , Shyamkumar (AIRBSNLEWA), TP George(Circle Secretary ), K Ravindran(Circle President) shared the dias have addressed.
New Office-bearers of TRIVANDRUM District elected are:
President: S G Panicker
District Secretary: V Sivarajan
Treasurer: S Rajdev
DPE ISSUED ORDERS FOR REVISED RATES OF IDA DUE FROM 01-04-2024 . REVISED RATE OF IDA 216.8%
om-13-june-2024-regarding-2007-ida-pay-scale-revised-da-rate.pdf
The biennial general meeting of AIBSNLPWA District Bhopal Branch was held on 9th June 2024 in Bhopal in the chairmanship of Com. V.S. Thakur, Circle Secretary. Com. D.R.Kori, Com. N.K. Garg and Com. Arun Srivastava were unanimously elected as District President, District Secretary and District Treasurer respectively.
General Body meeting was held at Puducherry on 27-5-2024.
GS Com Vara Prasad addressed.
Com Hariharan DS Puducherri & others on the dias.
The 8th District Conference of AIBSNLPWA, Cuddalore, was held successfully on the 28th of May, 2024.
It has witnessed over 400 members participating.
Distinguished Guests and Speakers: - Com. V. Varaprasad, General Secretary - Com. P. Jayaraman, Assistant General Secretary - Com. S. Sundara Krishnan, Circle Secretary - Com. A. Sugumaran, Veteran Leader - Sri. S. Balachandran, General Manager, BSNL Cuddalore
Newly Elected Office Bearers: - District President: Com. K. Chandramohane - District Secretary: Com. R. Asokan - District Treasurer: Com. Nandakumar
Ordered on 31-05-2024.
1.These are applications filed by the petitioners seeking early hearing of the writ petitions as also stay of the contempt petition initiated by the respondents.
2. We may note that the matter was last listed on 05-04-2024 when it was adjourned at the request of learned counsel for the petitioners to 12-07-2024.
3. While adjourning the matter, this court had clarified that neither any notice had been issued in the writ petitions nor was the impugned order stayed.
4. In these circumstances, we see absolutely no reason to entertain the present applications on the last working day on 31-05-2024, when the petitioners had sufficient time to move such applications if there was any grave urgency for preponement of next date of hearing.
5. We therefore , dismiss the applications with costs of Rs 10000/- in each of the matters , making it clear that the dismissal of these applications will not affect the merits of the application for stay already pensing before this Court.
6. Costs in terms of this order will be paid to Delhi High Court Staff Welfare Fund within a period of four weeks.
Cat is out of the bag
One information secured under RTI is in circulation in social media. I contacted that person and got the following information:- Shri Amarnath Thakur of Kolkatta Telephones (VRS-2019 scheme retiree – retired on 31/1/2020 - and at the time of retirement, he worked as Senior GM (Admn) in Kolkatta Telephones) sought information about the file notings on implementation of PB, CAT order dated 20/9/2023 and the reply received from nodal departments.He told me that he heard all my audios about the pension revision issue and appreciated our clear approach. I asked him whether he is our member and he told that he is a member of SNPWA because one of his close friends asked him to join it.He also said that “I am following your line of approach” on the issue of pension revision. Though he got copy of the replies, from nodal departments to DoT, they did not supply the file notings of DoT. He said that he is going to appeal for the same tomorrow. The replies received from the nodal departments reveals the following facts:- DoT sought the opinion of nodal departments on 27/9/2023 (exactly one week after the PB, CAT order) On 17/10/2023 Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) replied that they have no role and it has to be decided by DoT and Department of Pension On 20/10/2023 Department of Legal Affairs stated “it seems to be a fit case for challenge. However, DoT may take decision in consultation with DoP&PW and DPE , being the nodal departments on the issue in hand. On 15/11/2023 DoP&PW in its reply quoted para 28 of PB, CAT order.It further stated “Since, the Hon’ble CAT has ordered for revision of pension and family pension strictly as per relevant rules, it is for DoT to take an administrative decision in the matter. DoP&PW has no further comments to offer”. On 4/1/2024 DoE replied “In this regard, the view taken by the Administrative Ministry for challenging the order 20/9/2023 of the CAT (PB), New Delhi appears to be appropriate.Accordingly, DoT is requested to defend the interest of UoI on behalf of Secretary (Expenditure).DoT is also requested to get the draft reply vetted by DPE, DoP&PW and DoE before filing W.P in the High Court of Delhi”.
So, the main culprit is DoT because they only decided to go for appeal.All the offiers in DoT and Hon MoC have misled all the associations. They lost the credibility before the pensioners community. DoE played its part against the interest of pensioners. The main nodal department i.e. Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare, which is the authority on pension matters, has not suggested to challenge the order of PB, CAT. In my opinion, they have only understood the issue in its perspective. Even Department of Legal Affairs has thrown the ball only to DoT., DoE, without understanding the issue, has suggested to consult DPE.
We have given this input to our lawyer.
D Gopalakrishnan, CHQ President 21/5/2024