G N S clarifies.

As one who had been given the main responsibility of steering our litigation in the SC I feel it necessary to give the following details in addition to what I had reported from Delhi to the Gen.Secy on 30/7

                  I was in the court hall and had  the advantage of sitting in the second row on account of the privilege of being an advocate.When the matter was called for on both occasions of the day no senior counsel except the one engaged by us (viz. Fedn. of retired class 1 officers Assns) was present on behalf of the appealing parties. On the second occasion when there was some serious discussion at the end of which the presiding judge had actually returned the papers to the court officer to note the adjourned date.It was at this point our Sr.counsel stood up again and forcibly pleaded for at least an order being passed as an interim relief. The Bench obliged and the interim order came to be passed.In terms of the same LIC is obliged to comply withe Delhi HC order in toto.

                The interim order no doubt related to only one of two issues and absence of any reference to the up gradation demand would have naturally led some people to feel -  disappointed.

The fact however remains that by this interim order we have nearly clinched one major demand - I may say even ahead of bank pensioners who are facing a negative finding on the issue of 100% neutralisation - on which we have been fighting a battle for over a decade..According to LIC's own statement before the Delhi HC they had paid interim relief of 40% to some 16000 pensioners out of 18000 eligible people. The Delhi Hc formula no doubt fails to bring about 100% neutralisation in exact terms.Howevever with a specific direction by the High court itself that payment of 40% already made should not be adjusted we have very  nearly achieved our long pending demand on DR issue. According to a preliminary rough estimation the arrears for 20 years should be substantial. It is estimated that out o the eligible group about 50% constitute Family pensioners and it cannot be denied that we ,as an organisation will be doing a good social service by procuring the interim order in question to all in the pre 97 category irrespective of whether they are our members or not.Let us hope LIc will not create any further hitch and abide by the SC order within eight weeks

.With Greetings to all

 --G N Sridharan