E circular Dk/89 dated 13.11.2019 from Gen.Secretary Sri D.Krishnan.

FEDERATION OF RETIRED LIC CLASS I OFFICERS' ASSOCIATIONS     

President :    N.P. Bali 705, Sur, Veena Saaz, Thakur Complex, Kandivali (East), Mumbai - 400 101 Mob : 9820324213 Email Id - npbali@hotmail.com

General Secretary :    D Krishnan No.6/1, Sreshta Riverside Apartments, Wood Creek Road, Nandambakkam, Chennai - 600089 Tel : 9176635967 / 044 42850049. Email Id - dkrishnan1@gmail.com

E circular DK/89                                                                                  13-11-2019

 

Dear Friends,

I thought I should keep you all posted of the letter I wrote to Sri Guptaji , MD of LIC,  in connection with matters that remain totally  unattended, on the Discussions we( the joint group of Retiree Associations) had with the Chairman and the ED (P) on the 24th of July.  I thought , just being nice to us, when we visit the CO, is not good enough, and they need to act.  This letter to the MD was sent by Speed Post today.  So, this message  has the backing of the other groups as well.

Preparations for the General Council slated for the 8th of Dec  2019, are afoot and we hope to send out the Secretary's Report in Advance to the Office bearers and EC members of the Federation, so that we could get opinions/suggestions from them well ahead of the GC meeting .

 Our President is reportedly improving in his health, while the Treatment schedule is still on. He may not be in a position to attend the GC meeting on the 8th of Dec, but has expressed his agreement to hold on to the top post, if the GC members are in agreement on this. We are leaving it to him to take a call on this for now. Sri Prem Dhamija, Vice President, will chair the GC meeting on the 8th of Dec. 2019

The Final meeting between the IBA and the Bank Employees' Associations is expected to take place on the 15th of Nov. and we shall come back with any developments if they do happen.

Now here is the transcript of the letter to the MD: 

FEDERATION OF RETIRED LIC CLASS I OFFICERS' ASSOCIATIONS     

13^th Nov. 2019

Dear Sri Guptaji,

Pranams to you.  Many of our matters discussed with the Chairman, and your good self, on the 24th of July 2019, are still hanging on, without a movement. In this context, I had sent a Message to Sri Kumarji (on whatsapp) on the eve of Diwali, and for your information, I reproduce it here:

"Sri Kumar, First of all, Happy Deepavali to you and Family.

You might recall my saying on 24th July at CO, that we pensioners are not given our due and we only get good treatment when we go over, but nothing more. 

As I said, even minor matters which lie with CO are not done.

The 92-93 Retirees are paying with their life, waiting for a fair deal from LIC!      Why no decision on this so far? 

Some other points like Pension on 1st, Family Pension (full) up to age 67,  Cash Medical Allowance of some amount in lieu of Domiciliary treatment, Review of Defective implementation of DHC order on arrears for pre-97 retirees etc., still remain to be touched. 

I know, and you well know, that we are a spent force, and can't pose any perception of threat, of any sort for you, at CO.  But there's something called justice and fair play, to the seniors. Can we expect a symbolic movement on any of these matters? Sorry if I have caused you a moment of awkwardness by raising these. 

Just have in mind that paths of glory lead but to Retirement. Now you are in a position to do something. Please see. Thanks for this indulgence of your VIP time.   

Regards   D. Krishnan." 

 On the matter of implementation of DHC Orders (Verdict pronounced on 27th April 2017) we did point out on the 24th July, the glaring errors committed by the CO:

1. Calculating Arrears from 29th Jan 2007 instead of Dec 1998. In Discussions on 24th July, we pointed out that the Residual issues of Writ Petition 6676         dt.  18-12-1998 in Jaipur, after dropping a couple of miscellaneous Demands, were DR and Updating Pension only, and nothing else. If DR was not part of the WP, as you had interpreted it, you had probably lost sight of your own DR payment, as Deposit, in the Jaipur HC as early as 7-12-2012 followed by your sworn Affidavit (as directed by SC on 17-12-2012) and a statement of DR dues to 23 eligible petitioners of the said WP, signed incidentally, by none other than  Sri Kumarji, our Chairman, and the then ED (P) (copy Attached).

2. Assuming 0.23% rather than the ordered 0.29% for Pension Range of 2130-3850, badly affected the lesser paid Pensioners.

3. As per LIC letter itself, while disbursing 40% IR, the same could be adjusted only after Final Decision on the matter in the Court. The deduction of the IR at the interim stage, when final disposal is yet to happen, was certainly premature.

These mistakes are borne out by the anomalous facts which were pointed out by us during the discussions, and these are:

1. While 16000 pensioners were paid 40% Arrears, only 3600 pensioners were found eligible for full Arrears!

2. While 40% Arrears amounted to 29.35 Crores, full Arrears amounted to only 23.06 crores!

3. On 10th Oct 2018 LIC submitted an affidavit to honourable SC:
“it is humbly submitted that the Corporation is committed for payment and as the calculation of the minimum pension to the pensioners would require some more time ... it craves indulgence of this Hon’ble Court to grant an additional time of 8 weeks for compliance of the said part qua the minimum pension payable to the retirees.”

All the petitioners, without exception, pointed out the faulty payments made by LIC. The Hon’ble Court, on the basis of LIC’s oral assurance, not limiting to minimum pension but in general terms, observed (orally) that LIC undertakes to pay more, and wants time, and then adjourned. One full year is over, and no additional payments worth mentioning were made and no further      affidavit was filed for further payments on any count.

Our discussions on 24th July ended with the gentlemen's agreement that these would be reviewed. Why no action till now? Please do spare a thought for the aging pensioners and have these matters reviewed.

Regards                                                                                              D.Krishnan   - General Secretary