WE HAVE WON THE ANOMALY CASE

We have won the case in CAT Principal Bench on Pension Anomaly of those who retired from BSNL during the period from October 2000 to  June 2001.

 It is another colourful feather on the hat of AIBSNLPWA.

 BSNL staff retired during the above period were granted pension at 50% of ten months average pay. This pay of the 10 months, it was partly in CDA scales and partly in IDA scales. 

Dearness Allowance on pension was granted in IDA pattern only.  As a result, they got less pension than those who retired before them in September 2000 and also less than their juniors who retired after June 2001. 

 The first recognized union (NFTE-BSNL) did not take up the case for their own reasons. The second recognized union (BSNLEU) did not understand the case properly and confused the entire matter.  Years passed on futile discussions.  

Finally, our Association decided to fight it out. We discussed the matter with DoT and Department of Pension also. Finding no result, we filed the case in CAT.  A legal committee was constituted for the purpose.  

 I appreciate the great worked done by our Legal Committee consisting of Com. D Gopalakrishnan, 

Com. R L Kapoor and 

Late Com. Chhidu Singh

(Com. R H Mitkary is the member of the committee now  in place of Com. Chhidu Singh.)

 We appealed to all the affected pensioners (who retired during the above mentioned period) to send their particulars.  About 425 pensioners only sent the details. Then, Com. DG using the Right to Information Act, collected the information officially from CCAs.  It was revealed that about 4300 pensioners are affected by the Anomaly.

They  spent months to collect all materials relevant to the case. Com. DG has done marvelous research work on the case.  Com. Kapoor attended the court  every time the case was listed and postponed.  For three years we were in the Court for this case alone. The Advocate Shri Naresh Kaushik pleaded the case brilliantly on behalf of our Association.  Advocate could plead it properly because of the feedback he received from our Legal Committee. 

The Judgement in full (24 pages) is uploaded  in the CHQ Website.

The affected people should be granted IDA pay notionally for the entire ten months and pension should be granted  based on that notional IDA pay.  I hope better sense will prevail on the top officers in DoT and issue necessary orders honouring the direction from CAT without going for an appeal.  Let us wait and see.

      P S Ramankutty