Respected Chairman Sir !

FEDERATION OF RETIRED LIC CLASS I OFFICERS ASSOCIATIONS.

                      
PRESIDENT                                       GENERAL SECRETARY
 N.P.BALI                                                             G.N.SRIDHARAN



DT. 05.05.2017


Shri V.K.Sharma,
Chairman,.  As contribu
LIC of India, Central Office,
Mumbai 400021

Respected Sir,

Ref:
Delhi High Court's verdict on pensioners' issue W.P.184/2007 filed by our Federation.


We refer to the judgement dated 27.4.2017 of the Hon'ble Delhi High Court on writ petition filed by the representative organisations of LIC pensioners including our Federation.

Whatever may be the implication of the court order, we certainly regret to have to point out that the manner in which the Corporation fought the litigation was certainly no in tune with the generally perceived image of the great institution especially when the parties who had sought judicial remedy for their genuine grievances were people who had immensely contributed to the growth of the Corporation over several decades.  Apart from that, the paradox is that the Corporation itself unfortunately has been responsible for beating its own image of financial strength by presenting a picture of near bankruptcy before the Court which was unwarranted and untrue. As contributors to the growth and financial stability of LIC we as pensioners are entitled to work for the restoration of the Corporation's image. We are therefore considering the option of continuing our struggle for justice by approaching the highest Judicial Forum of the country, viz., the Supreme Court.

Be that as it may, we hasten to bring to your kind notice a particular aspect relating to a small benefit conferred on a section of pensioners by the judgment. We refer to the findings of the Hon'ble Court in regard to the discriminatory treatment being meted out to a section of pensioners in the matter of Dearness Relief.   While directly not striking out the relevant Pension Rule 3A to Appendix IV the Hon'ble Court has indeed recognized the fact that those who had been denied 100% neutralization of D.R.because of the retirement prior to the cut off date on 01.08.1997 have undergone deprivation by prescribing a different formula. The court has also at the same time categorically held that the quantum of 40% interim relief  received by the concerned category of pensioners in terms of the earlier order dated 31.03.2016 of the Hon'ble Supreme Court has become their property and hence cannot be recovered or adjusted by LIC.

It will be recalled that while making payment of 40% I.R. in two instalments we had already pointed out that the basis of calculating the quantum adopted by LIC was not only faulty but unfair to the pensioners concerned.  Because of this back ground we are naturally anxious to ensure that the faulty and unjust method of calculation is eschewed if the Corporation decides on paying the arrears to them under the latest order of the Delhi High Court.  We therefore appeal to you in advance to ensure that assuming if and when the Corporation decides to honour the court verdict in this behalf there should be transparency in regard to the calculation methods adopted by the Corporation.

Without prejudice therefore to our right to agitate against the judgment in regard to other important issues like upgradation of pension which have remained static for nearly a quarter of a century, we request that the method of calculation should be error free and fair to the pensioners.  We also state that the fact that the Court has given 9 months time should not be utilized for delaying payment.

Assuming that the Corporation will be honouring the judgment we are ready to explain matters to the concerned experts in the Central Office including the Director (Actl) in the interest of justice to the concerned segment of members eligible for arrears in terms of the judgement.

Kindly acknowledge receipt.

Yours faithfully.
Sd.
G.N.Sridharan.
General Secretary.