26th Pension Adalat at
Chennai
26th
Pension Adalat of Tamilnadu was held at Chennai on 7/11/2016 after a gap of 8
months under the chairmanship of new CCA Dr R.Niranjana. Joint CCA Shri Vinod Kumar welcomed all. On behalf of pensioners Com DG welcomed
all. Representatives from some banks
like SBI, IOB, Canarabank and representatives from BSNL Tamilnadu Circle,
Chennai Telephones, STR, STP and representatives from O/o GM, PA&F
attended. It was held between 1415 &
1745 (3hrs & 30mts).
49
individuals have represented their grievances (nearly 15 about change of
address). Out of 49, twentyfour
grievances were settled; 15 are pending due to wants of information; 4 are
pending with Banks & 6 are closed.
On behalf
of 11 pensioners’ associations (out of which 7 are from AIBSNLPWA – TN Circle,
Chennai Telephones, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore, Thanjavur & STR SSAs)
122 cases were given. The other 4
associations were AIBDPA TN circle, and its Vellore SSA unit, Trichy &
Erode Associations. From these
Associations, Trichy, Erode &Vellore were not present. From our Association, our GS, Vice president
DG, CHQ treasurer, TN circle president, Circle Secretary, Chennai Telephones
President, Secretary, Treasurer & others, representatives from Cuddalore, Puducherry,
Thanjavur, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Virudhunagar SSAs attended the pension adalat.
Many issues
were settled and some of the issues still remain unsettled. Some of the following common issues were
discussed.
1.
Grant of 3% increment on
promotion instead of one increment in the lower grade – Since clarificatory orders are received, the cases would be
settled provided SSA units forward the
sanction and Service Book of the concerned official.
2. Reckoning officiating pay for pension – The official side
informed that It was denied on the basis of some order issued by Corporate
office and clarification is sought and the clarification is still awaited. We raised the following points a) As per
statutory rule, officiating pay is to be reckoned for pension, b) The corporate
office withdrew that order at a later date, c) Whether CCA office is guided by
Corporate office order or DoT order/statutory rule. CCA
informed that we can have a separate discussion on this issue.
3. Reckoning Extra increment for pension – The official side informed that they have sought clarification
from DoT on the subject and it is still awaited. CCA wanted our HQrs to pursue at DoT level to
get necessary clarification from Establishment wing of DoT. We informed that hundreds of cases were
settled in Tamilnadu and only few cases remain unsettled. DoT issued orders on 27/7/2009 stating
“competent authority has approved the counting one extra increment granted to
Gr.III staff of BSNL …. Towards pension & pensionary benefits as a special
case as this issue had been a part of wage settlement”. This order was neither withdrawn nor modified
by DoT. Further as per DoT orders, OTBP/BCR
is allowed for restructured cadres. CCA informed that we can have a separate
discussion on this issue.
4. Grant of full pension for those who retired prior to 1/1/2006
having less than 33 years of qualifying service – The official side informed
that nearly 650 cases of CDA pensioners were settled. On a querry from us, the official side
informed that it covers both minimum pension and others who got pension above the minimum of revised pay
+ GP but proportionate pension (i.e. those who were covered as per para 4.1
& para 4.2). The official side
informed that they have not issued revised authority for BSNL IDA
pensioners. They informed that there is
no grade pay in BSNL and
-2-
hence they are not in a position to
apply 6/4/2016 order of DoP&PW for them and they have sought the
clarification from DoT. We told that the
table, the official side was referring to, was an annexure attached to
28/1/2013 DoP & PW order. That order
speaks about only the minimum pension.
Para 5 of that order mentions about para 4.1 & 4.2 (of OM dated
1/9/2008) and pro-rata pension for those having less than 33 years of
service. This particular para was
deleted by DoP & PW order dated 6/4/2016.
Then the official side raised a basic doubt that whether 6/4/2016 order
of DoP & PW covers BSNL IDA pensioners also. We raised a question whether BSNL IDA pensioners
who retired after 1/1/2006 having less than 33 years of qualifying service were
given full pension or not? The official
side informed that they were not also given.
We challenged it and informed that full pension was given to them since
the concept of 33 years of qualifying service for full pension was dispensed
with and the CCS (Pension) rules was amended accordingly. We told that DoT & BSNL Corporate office
endorsed that order of DoP & PW. We
quoted para 7(a) of DoP & PW OM dated 1/9/2008 which stated “Govt. servants on permanent absorption in PSU
continue to draw pension separately from the Govt, the pension of such
absorbees will be updated in terms of these orders”. Further,
we quoted DoT’s clarificatory order dated 3/6/2016 which stated “Therefore, all pre-2006 pensioners, except
those mentioned at point (ii) below are eligible for revision of pension in
terms of OM dt.6.4.2016”. We also
told that the existence of an order from the Ministry of Human Resources. After
hearing our arguments patiently, CCA informed that he is willing to discuss
this issue separately with an open mind irrespective of the clarification
sought. He wanted a letter from us
quoting the orders which we mentioned during the course of argument. We have agreed for the same.
